Distillery warehouse goes up in flames

A warehouse has gone up in flames at the Latvijas Balzams distillery, the largest alcohol producer in the Baltics that makes brands including Stolichnaya and LB Vodka.

The blaze broke out on Thursday morning on the ground floor of the building, located in Riga, where pallets holding products caught fire, spreading to the first floor by a conveyor belt, reported Shanghai Daily.

Workers were evacuated from the building before firefighters from the Latvian State Fire and Rescue Service arrived on the scene.

A total of 47 firefighters and six engines worked to tackle the blaze which destroyed Latvijas Balzams products at the distillery storehouse, although nobody was hurt.

The State Fire and Rescue Service said the flames engulfed an area of 1,000 square meters, but the extent of the damage has not been confirmed yet.

Dana Hasana, communications manager of JSC Latvijas Balzams, said in a statement: “JSC Latvijas Balzams informs that the company has resumed the work – the acceptance of cargoes is already taking place as well as filling of beverages will be resumed in the afternoon.

“Inspection of the warehouse premises, which were damaged during the fire, is taking place in parallel to that in order to specify the amount of losses and establish causes for ignition.

“The company is cooperating with State Fire and Rescue Service and other authorities performing investigation.”

She continued to explain that first estimates by Latvijas Balzams are not as severe as first feared.

“Losses caused by the fire are not as big as to significantly affect the financial results of activities of the company,” she added.

“Warehouse premises and finished products of JSC Latvijsa Balzams are insured. Products, which are located in the warehouse affected by the fire, have been damaged and will be destroyed.”