Moscow, Russia (CNN) -- A fire at a retirement home northwest of here killed nine people early Monday morning, Russian state media said.
Firefighters rescued 480 others from the building, the RIA-Novosti news agency reported.
The fire was caused by a resident committing suicide, Russian officials said on state TV.
The man poured gasoline on himself and set himself on fire, officials said. The Interfax news agency identified him as Nikolai Dudin, an 86-year-old World War II veteran.
He died of burns, and eight other people on his floor died of smoke inhalation, they said. A gas canister was found in his room, and the fire has been classified as arson, they said.
The fire broke out at a home in the Tver region. CNN
