Fire at Hitler's "Kehlsteinhaus": Suspect arrested
Around 200 firefighters battled a major fire at Adolf Hitler's historic mountain residence "Kehlsteinhaus" in Bavaria. A suspect has been arrested on suspicion of arson, according to German media reports.
Fire at Hitler's "Kehlsteinhaus": Suspect arrested
Around 200 firefighters were dispatched on Friday evening to the southern German Alps to fight a major fire at the historic "Kehlsteinhaus" – the remote mountain residence known as the "Eagle's Nest". According to news outlet 15min.lt, flames shot metres high from the building as emergency services arrived at Obersalzberg. The complex was completely engulfed in flames, according to police.
No one was injured in the incident. However, authorities moved quickly against a suspect: a man was arrested. Police spokesperson Lisa Maier explained that extinguishing the fire had been extremely difficult because the house is situated at 1,800 metres altitude. Firefighters were therefore only able to enter the building wearing heavy breathing apparatus.
The alarm was triggered at around 21:50 local time (22:50 Lithuanian time) when a smoke detector activated the fire alarm system. Although official investigators initially gave no specific cause for the fire, German media reported suspicions of arson. Early Saturday morning, weather cameras still showed flames blazing at the "Eagle's Nest". Police cordoned off the access road; no persons were inside the building at the time of the fire.
According to the tabloid newspaper "Bild", officers also stopped a motorcyclist they encountered on the way to the scene. Investigations are ongoing; police announced a press conference for Saturday.
The "Kehlsteinhaus", built between 1937 and 1938, is regarded as part of the legacy of the Third Reich. It was designed as a monumental representative building, although Adolf Hitler rarely visited the complex. The structure, made of stone and granite, survived the Second World War undamaged and today houses an exhibition on Nazi history as well as a restaurant.
Source: 15min.lt (https://www.15min.lt/naujiena/aktualu/pasaulis/adolfo-hitlerio-kalnu-rezidencijoje-kilo-gaisras-sulaikytas-itariamasis-57-2791680)
Source: 15min