A fire in a residential building on Rødtvet in Oslo on Saturday evening is being investigated as a suspected arson, police confirmed Monday. The incident, which prompted the evacuation of multiple residents, has left the community shaken, according to reports.
Emergency services were alerted to the blaze in the fifth floor of the building late Saturday evening, according to a statement from the Oslo Police District. Firefighters quickly gained control of the fire, but significant smoke permeated the building, affecting multiple apartments. Twelve individuals were transported to hospitals and urgent care facilities for evaluation, primarily for smoke inhalation, police stated. None of the injuries were initially assessed as life-threatening.
Investigators discovered a burned-out baby stroller in a common area/stairwell, leading police to believe the fire was intentionally set. “Obviously arson,” police stated in their public log. However, Pernille Fleischer, a criminal investigation leader with the Oslo Police District, cautioned that the assessment remains preliminary. “We will be conducting forensic investigations this week. We cannot say with one hundred percent certainty that the fire was arson, but observations and information we have gathered lead us to believe so. This, however, may change later,” Fleischer told VG.
Residents described a chaotic scene. A woman living with her husband and three young children on the same floor as the fire told VG, “We are still in shock. It is very frightening. We saw flames when we opened the door.” The woman requested anonymity.
Edvin Hammervold, chairman of the housing cooperative, expressed dismay at the situation. “If someone has set fire to a baby stroller, it is utterly tragic,” he said. Hammervold noted that the buildings in the cooperative, constructed in 1962, had never experienced a fire before. He also stated that several apartments are currently inaccessible due to damage to the corridor.
According to police logs, the fire was extinguished by 11:08 PM on Saturday. The corridor where the fire occurred remains closed off. Hammervold indicated that the apartments themselves are structurally sound and equipped with fire safety measures, including the absence of fire alarms in the hallway to prevent residents from opening doors into a potentially dangerous situation.
As of Monday morning, police have not identified any suspects or made any arrests. The investigation is ongoing, with forensic teams expected to examine the scene this week. The police are continuing to investigate the cause of the fire.
