Police Alert Hamar Residents After Series of Arson Fires
Authorities in Hamar have launched a massive security operation after four separate fires broke out across the city on Thursday, April 9, 2026. Police now believe the incidents are linked and are treating the fires as intentional acts of arson.
The string of fires began shortly after 4:00 p.m. In the Briskebyen neighborhood. The first reported blaze was a brush fire that spread to a building’s wall construction. A second fire was discovered shortly thereafter, only a few hundred meters away, originating in a windbreak in front of a house entrance. While investigators initially questioned if the first two blazes were related, the subsequent events shifted that assessment.
By approximately 7:30 p.m., emergency services were dispatched to two additional fires in the Rollsløkka and Disen areas. Both of these later blazes were extinguished, and officials confirmed that no injuries were reported in any of the four incidents.
Bård Einar Hoft, operations manager for the Innlandet police district, stated that the pattern of events makes it clear the fires were not accidental. “We now firmly believe that this is no longer a coincidence. We see completely obvious that someone is at work here,” Hoft said.
The sudden spike in suspicious fires has prompted a significant increase in police presence throughout the city. Officers have ramped up patrols and are maintaining a heavy presence to prevent further attacks. This coordinated response underscores the urgency of identifying the perpetrator to ensure public safety.
Police are urging residents—particularly those in Briskebyen, Disen, and Rollsløkka—to remain vigilant. Officials have asked the public to keep a close eye on their own properties and to report any suspicious activity to the police immediately.
Forensic investigators have already begun processing the scenes. According to on-site incident commander Vibeke Lundbekk, crime technicians will conduct further detailed examinations on Friday, April 10, 2026, once the firefighting foam used to suppress the blazes has dissipated.
