16-year-old Olav Bakkegard was woken on Sunday morning by his mother saying his school had burnt down. – I didn’t believe it at first, but when I saw it on the news it seemed more real, he says to news. Bakkegard finished tenth grade a few weeks ago. Now there is little left of the school he has known so well. – We drew on a ceiling panel in the classroom, where we wrote all our names. It’s gone now. It was supposed to be a memory of our going there. Olav Bakkegard points towards the classroom he sat in a few weeks ago. Photo: Lykke Frida Synnøve Høyås / news Friend Daniel Hermansen (15) rushed down to school when he heard about the fire. – I saw it from my house, we also heard a lot of sirens, we saw blue lights, and the sky was completely red. We didn’t quite understand what it was at first, so I got permission from my mother to go out and we also went here and saw that it was the school that was on fire. Video: Frida Synnøve Høyås / news He has gone to school for two years, but the start of tenth grade must be somewhere else. The roof over his classroom has collapsed. – How is it to see? – It is very sad because there are many memories in there. – It’s just a very nice school, so it’s a shame that a lot has burned down. The municipality is working to find an alternative place for the students in August. Photo: Lykke Frida Synnøve Høyås / news Although it is sad that his old school will disappear, Bakkegard sees a bright spot. – When something like this happens, you think of all the good memories you had at school. It’s kind of nice, too. If it hadn’t started to burn, I wouldn’t have thought much about school. Several theories The emergency services were dispatched following a report of a fire at Geilo secondary school at 02.12 on Sunday night. It wasn’t until Sunday morning that they got the fire under control. Police station commander in Hallingdal police district Britt Fyksen says the building is almost completely damaged. – We are starting an investigation, and we have asked for forensic examinations, she says. In addition, they will secure evidence in the form of photos and surveillance cameras from the surrounding area. They will also make contact with possible witnesses. – Do you have any theories as to what could be the cause of the fire? – One theory is that it was set up. Another is that it has happened due to technical error. A third is that someone has been negligent, says Fyksen. Looking for an alternative school Mayor of Hol Sigrid Simensen Ilsøy says it is sad that the school burned down. – So we are happy that it is a building that has burned down, and that there have been no injuries or deaths. The fire brigade moved out Photo: Lykke Frida Synnøve Høyås / news The municipality has already started to think about where to place both pupils and staff when the holidays are over, but it has not yet been decided. – We have to look at whether the municipality has buildings, whether there are other buildings nearby that may be available or whether we have to look at more temporary solutions such as barracks. Published 07/07/2024, at 15.47 Updated 07.07.2024, at 4 p.m
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– Many memories in there – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
