The Belarus Ministry of Emergency Situations has posted further details about the fire Nov. 27 in the Great Synagogue in Grodno, and also posted dramatic video of firefighters battling the blaze.
According to the ministry report, the fire may have been caused by heating violations, specifically a chimney fire due to soot in the chimney. It said the blaze caused about 25 square meters of damage, spread between the second and third floors of the building. A dining room and a prayer room were gutted.
We would like to reiterated that, while it stands on the site of a long-gone 16th century wooden synagogue, the fire-damaged synagogue was built in 1902-1905. It is notable for its Russian-style architecture. The main sanctuary was not hit by the fire, and no-one was injured in the blaze.