Fire Hits Moscow Ski-Jump

A fire at a landmark ski-jump overlooking central Moscow was extinguished after lighting up the night sky for nearly an hour.

The ski-jump is atop the Sparrow Hills, a bluff about 60 meters (200 feet) above the Moscow River. The area affords a sweeping panorama of the city and is a popular excursion spot.

The fire in the ski-jump’s plastic covering was put out just before midnight, Russian news agencies cited fire officials as saying. There was no immediate word on the extent of the damage.

It was the second spectacular nighttime fire in the city in a month. On April 2, fire broke out about 250 meters (880 feet) above ground atop a skyscraper that was under construction.