The case in summary:
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- Fredrikstad Volunteer Center and a hotel were hit by a major fire on Friday.
- The volunteer centre, which offers activities for around 300 people each week, is now without premises and much equipment has probably been lost.
- Hotel Fredrikstad is temporarily closed, and it is uncertain when it can open again.
- 26 people were evacuated from the area, two of them received medical attention, but are unharmed.
- The Kråkerøy Bridge was closed for several hours due to the smoke build-up.
The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAI. The content is quality assured by NRK’s journalists before publication.
– It is very bad. One thing is for us, but it is particularly tragic for all those who use us, says Inger Marie Solgård.
She is the general manager of the Volunteering Center in Fredrikstad. Early on Friday morning, she received word that the building she works in was fully engulfed in flames.
The general manager of the Volunteer Center says they have lost a lot in the fire.
Photo: Rune Fredriksen / NRK
– For now, it is completely unreal, says Solgård.
There are usually 350 volunteers on hand to provide a wide range of activities to those who need it.
– There are many people who get help here, and perhaps have it as the only place they go to during the week.
In the course of a week, around 300 people make use of the offer in Østfoldbyen.
– We are an offer for people who may need someone to talk to, who are lonely, need help with Norwegian or whatever.
Hotel closed: – I have no words
Early on Friday morning, a fire started in a building in Fredrikstad. Firefighters battled the flames for several hours before they got it under control.
26 people were evacuated from the area. Two of them were looked after by a doctor, but are unharmed.
The Kråkerøy Bridge was closed for several hours due to the smoke build-up.
Hotel Fredrikstad was also hit by the flames. Several hotel guests were awakened by the chaos.
Hotel Fredrikstad is closed after the fire, says hotel owner Bjørn Erik Simensen.
Photo: Rune Fredriksen / NRK
– I do not have words. It is very heavy, says the owner of the hotel, Bjørn Erik Simensen.
The hotel has temporarily closed its doors. When they can open again is uncertain.
– We won’t know until Monday how long it will be closed, says Simensen.
Big consequences
The volunteer center rents premises in the building that burned down. Now they are without premises for an indefinite period.
A lot of equipment has probably been lost.
– We don’t know if we will get anything out or if there is anything left. Unfortunately, we have a lot that is only on paper, says Solgård.
Not all the registration lists for activities at the Volunteering Center have been digitalised.
– It will be quite bad if it is lost. We must encourage people to apply again if this happens, Solgård.
There was heavy smoke on Friday morning.
Photo: Emergency news
The incident will affect the range of activities going forward.
– The activities at the centre, such as homework help for children, language cafes and sewing courses.
Now they are worried about the values they may have lost.
But they are still in good spirits.
– The yarn house and the knitting cinema festival have already started collecting yarn for our knitting days. I haven’t cried until today, but then it was fixed.