Several evacuated after fire in the Old Town in Oslo – NRK Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
– We were contacted by a witness who had set a person smashing a window and that it soon after took before inside a restaurant, says operations manager Vidar Pedersen in the Oslo police district to NRK.
There were no people in the restaurant when the fire started. The restaurant is located on the ground floor of an older apartment building with several apartments.
– The emergency services arrived quickly at the scene and all residents who were in the apartments above were evacuated, Pedersen says.
The fire was extinguished by the fire brigade after a short time and the residents were allowed to return to their apartments.
No one was injured in the blaze.
Suspects arson
Police suspect that someone started the fire on purpose.
– We have already done some research on the spot. The fire service reports that it smelled of petrol in connection with the place where the fire started, so we have a strong suspicion that this has been done, Pedersen says.
He further says that the police are searching the area with several patrols for people who are said to have run from the place.
The emergency services were notified of the fire at 02.05. The fire brigade moved out to the scene with seven cars.