A fire at the historic Miller Mansion in central St. Petersburg, Russia, affected approximately 2,000 square metres of the main building and reached the roof of the adjoining structure. The flames, which began at the building opposite Saint Isaac's Cathedral, grew rapidly on Thursday evening, October 1.
The fire started shortly after 8 p.m. Emergency crews raised the response level to three alarms, while the interior of the mansion burned completely by Friday morning, October 2.
No one was injured or killed in the incident. Firefighters kept the blaze under control throughout the night.
As part of the investigation, authorities are considering whether welding work carried out inside the building without adequate safety measures may have started the fire. The St. Petersburg branch of Russia's Ministry of Emergency Situations said that old wooden floors and interior partitions, along with voids inside the walls, helped the flames spread rapidly between floors.
Ministry spokesman Andrei Litovka told journalists, while discussing the possible causes, "We are considering every possibility, starting with aliens."
Miller Mansion was to be converted into a luxury housing project
The Miller Mansion was built in the late 18th century and redesigned in 1880 with Italian Renaissance-style facades. The protected historic building was planned to be converted into luxury residences following an extensive restoration.
A local developer received a loan of 768 million rubles, approximately $9.2 million, this year to restore the property and convert it into a luxury housing development. The project was expected to be completed in 2027.
