Firefighters responded to two separate house fires early Tuesday, one in Fredrikstad and another in Trondheim, prompting evacuations and investigations into potential causes.
In Fredrikstad, three people and a dog were safely evacuated from a duplex after a fire broke out overnight. The blaze spread to a nearby garage, but crews were able to prevent it from reaching the other half of the building.
“There is a lot of smoke in the area,” said Atle Vesttorp, operations leader for the Øst politidistrikt, around 12:30 a.m. Local time. “Residents are advised to keep doors and windows closed.”
Authorities are investigating reports of fireworks being set off near the site of the fire, though it remains unclear if the two incidents are connected. “We don’t know if there is a connection to the fire, but it is naturally something we are checking out,” Vesttorp told Fredriksstad Blad.
Police are asking anyone with information about the fireworks to come forward. “If anyone has seen anything, we ask them to contact the police,” Vesttorp said.
Around the same time, a house in Trondheim was fully engulfed in flames, leading to the evacuation of nine people who were then treated by medical personnel.
Firefighters successfully contained the blaze to the original structure, preventing it from spreading to adjacent homes. Trond Hangaas, operations leader for the Trøndelag politidistrikt, confirmed the details.
