An overnight fire at a mental hospital in the ex-Soviet republic of Belarus has killed at least 30 people. All the victims were patients at the asylum in Kozlovichi, a town in the western province of Grodno. A Belarusian presidential official said a patient known to be a pyromaniac had set fire to the building. Staff reportedly delayed alerting the fire service as they tried to douse the flames on their own but they only managed to rescue 31 patients. No members of staff were injured in the blaze which began at about 0400 AM (0100 GMT). Of the 62 patients housed in the facility, 31 survived with minor injuries, 30 were confirmed dead and one was reported missing. According to the Belarusian emergencies ministry, fire safety at the asylum had been adequate and its wiring and heating systems had been in good order. Patients had twice attempted to burn it down in the past, the ministry noted. The asylum was a state institution used to house mentally ill patients who were unable to cope on their own and whose relatives refused to take care of them, the ministry added. President Alexander Lukashenko has ordered a full investigation. **Crucial delay*** Emergencies Minister Valery Astapov, who went to the scene of the blaze, said there had been a 30-minute delay in summoning the fire service. "The home's staff tried to put out the fire and to save the patients on their own," he said. "For this reason, they called firefighters only 30 minutes after the fire had broken out." By the time rescue services arrived, the building was completely ablaze and the roof and floors had collapsed. **PHOTO CAPTION*** Belarus map.