The report about the fire came just after 1.30 on Friday night. It was neighbors who heard the fire alarm in the nursery and reported it to the fire brigade. The police have now arrested two people who they believe are behind the fire. The two are minors. – We suspect that the fire was set and that they are behind it, says police attorney Mathias Häber. The two have been in custody and child protection has been contacted and is taking further follow-up. Police prosecutor Mathias Häber says that they suspect that two young people are behind the fire. Photo: Remi Sagen / news There were clues at the scene that led the police to the two young people. Häber says that the case is serious and has major consequences for the kindergarten children. Both deny having anything to do with the fire, says Axel Lange, who is defending one of the young people. – They admit that they have been in the area, but not that they have anything to do with the arson, says Lange. The flames were through the roof when the fire brigade arrived. Photo: Elisabeth Haddal Røsvik / news Flammar stood out of the building Flammane stood out of the west side of the oldest part of the kindergarten last night. – Open flames were observed from the roof of the nursery. Thus, all the emergency reports went out. When we arrived, the nursery was full of fire, says operations manager Sindre Molnes in the Møre and Romsdal police district to news. There are many houses in the vicinity of the nursery, but the fire brigade managed to prevent the fire from spreading. There was little wind in the area during the fire, but it has snowed a lot in recent days. The snow created challenges for the fire brigade. – We had to make a strong effort under difficult conditions. There was a lot of snow which made the arrival a bit difficult. But we managed to prevent the fire from spreading further, says Gisle Skrede, head of the fire service in Ålesund. It is especially the oldest part of the nursery that has suffered extensive fire damage. Photo: Elisabeth Haddal Røsvik / news Major injuries Solgerd Hjelle Laugen says they are working hard to find solutions for the kindergarten children. Photo: Remi Sagen / news On Friday morning, the police report that the kindergarten has suffered extensive damage. The kindergarten consists of several building parts and the older part is completely damaged. The newer part of the nursery has most likely suffered water and smoke damage, the police say. A little after seven o’clock on Friday morning, the police report that the fire has been extinguished, that the area has been cordoned off and that a case is being opened with the police. The board of the kindergarten is now working with Ålesund municipality to find a solution for the 78 kindergarten children. – What has happened is terrible, says Solgerd Hjelle Laugen, who is the day-to-day leader. The 30 or so employees are also affected and say that it is terribly sad. Today there should have been a Santa party in the kindergarten. Work will now be done to find a solution for the kindergarten children after the fire. Photo: Remi Sagen / news
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