1,977 die in Russia`s January fires. - By Grigory Dubovitsky http://www.itar-tass.com/russ/vibory/asp/message1.asp?id=103084

MOSCOW, February 22 2000 (Itar-Tass) - A total of 1,977 people died in Russia`s fires last month, including 94 children, and another 1,236 people were treated for injuries or burns, the press service of the Main Fire Control Service Department told Itar-Tass on Tuesday. Firefighters saved the lives of more than 5,400 people, and 2.9 billion roubles of valuables over the designated period. The fire-related damage was estimated at some two billion roubles. The fires were mostly caused by carelessness (38 percent), and improper use of electric appliances (26 percent) and heaters (20 percent). Most fires occurred in the residential sector, according to the press service.