on June 21 at the Russian Antarctic station “Mirny” emergency happened. The fire completely burnt down the radio room, server room, residential building, several classrooms and laboratories. The victims managed to escape, the explorers were evacuated through the fire escape. On the causes and consequences of the fire we talked to a participant of expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic, Deputy Director of the Institute of geography RAS Nikolai Osokin.
Fire in Antarctica — this is a very serious situation that can lead to death, and then to the closure station, says researcher Nikolai Osokin. In this case we can say that the explorers luck. Burned one house along with a laboratory building. The fire spread to the cabin, but the explorers managed to defend. Survived diesel, which is the only source of heat and light. Without it, it just died.
And, of course, most importantly, nobody was hurt. If someone got burned, it would become a big problem, as the conditions for medical assistance at the station are limited. It is gratifying that the basic services of life support remained intact.
the Fire completely destroyed the House Radio. How soon was able to establish a connection with the station?
— At the station “peace” burned the main radio. But in our time, for when it’s not such a big problem, because the station has a satellite phone. Also has a spare radio station, which is located far enough from the main. So now it also works.
the fire burned meteolaboratory. For some time the transfer of data will cease. But at the station there is always equipment that was recently removed and replaced with new, more modern. And, on the contrary, received a new, but not yet had time to install. Therefore, the aquifer appliance will soon be delivered, and the station will work almost in full mode.
How many people are now at the station “peace”?
— All wintering personnel of 23 employees. Personnel managed to evacuate via a fire exit. 11 had to relocate to other buildings of the station. They are provided with clothes and all necessary.
Employees had to make room. Of course, to live now they will have less comfort. The fact that wintering by explorers, usually live in the room one by one, their life a they in many months acquire personal belongings. Their room is their home for the whole year, their fortress. And now half the staff it had lost. They mentally will not be easy. They lost that had so lovingly built for almost six months. Now the explorers are forced to live in the room two by two.
How soon can come help?
— the Ship before Dec will come. The plane can fly somewhere at the beginning of Noah��OC, but he can only bring something small for the volume that is required urgently. Now no possibility to help the station and the people who are there, no. Until December they would have to solve all their problems. But explorers men of the world, they know that they are not at the resort.
At what distance is the nearest wintering station?
— To the nearest station, which belongs to Australia, approximately 600 kilometers. For such a huge continent like Antarctica, which is several times larger than Europe, is located about 40 wintering stations. Each of them lives about 20 people, sometimes less. To be able to study a variety of conditions in the “center of cold on the Ground,” on the southernmost continent, these stations scattered throughout Antarctica.
Foreign experts in this case to help our explorers can’t, because they, too, live independently, and to travel in such harsh conditions, and even over long distances, is problematic. In Antarctica, it is winter, the polar night and quite cold. Although the lowest temperatures yet to come, severe frosts will start to pop in August.
What could be the cause of the fire at the station?
the Station “peace” is the old wintering station, which was established in 1956. Built buildings are not demolished, and often just being completed and moderniziriruyutsya. And, of course, the same House which burned down, was not the new building on the station, he for many years. Everything eventually decays, as if closely behind all this nor watched. The problem appear.
that day, June 21, when the fire happened, were observed hurricane-force winds, which reached 20-25 meters per second. When blowing, there is high static electricity. It also could affect the occurrence of fire.
— In a multi-polar experience was such an extreme situation related to the fire?
— No, the God of mercy. The fire station is a very rare event. In the preparation of personnel and in the preparation of the station itself, the issue of fire safety is given much attention. Maybe even at the expense of comfort, but every effort is made to comply with all necessary fire prevention measures.
