Historic Kongsvinger Manor Burns as Fire Engulfs Roof and Stairwell
A 19th-century manor house in downtown Kongsvinger, Norway, caught fire Friday evening and was expected to be a total loss as the entire roof structure and stairwell burned, VG reported. Emergency crews battled the blaze at Lunderbye Nor — also known as Nor herregård — with major resources, and the E16 highway was temporarily closed past the scene for several hours.
E16 Closed for Hours While Railway Stays Open
Police shut down the E16 just after 11 p.m. Friday because of the fire, VG reported, and Aftenposten said the road would stay closed for a couple of hours into the night. The railway line running alongside the building remained open, NRK reported. Videos and photos from the scene showed large flames and heavy smoke.
A Vacant Building With a Recent Change of Owner
The building had stood empty for some time with no activity inside, fire duty officer Øivind Løberg told VG’s 110 emergency line. NRK reported that operations leader Vidar Flokenes of the Innlandet police district confirmed with the owner that the house was vacant. According to local newspaper Glåmdalen, as cited by VG, the manor received a new owner earlier this year after a forced sale. In more recent times the building had operated as a museum and cultural park under the name Kulturparken Nor.
Built in 1858–59 by Master Builder Schüssler
Lunderbye Nor was erected by master builder Johan Heinrich Günther Schüssler in 1858–59, according to VG, NRK, Aftenposten and TV 2. The house sits between the E16 and the railway in central Kongsvinger.
Fire Crews Work Both Outside and Inside
“We are conducting both external and internal extinguishing now,” duty officer Øivind Løberg told VG around 11 p.m. Friday. The fire department said there was no danger of the fire spreading to nearby buildings. The cause of the fire is unknown, Flokenes told NRK, adding: “It is far too early to say, but we register that it is burning more upstairs than downstairs.”
Neighbors Told to Keep Windows Shut
Police advised neighbors to keep their windows closed and stay away from the smoke in the area, operations leader Anna Boger of the Innlandet police district told NRK. “We are aware that this is a dignified house with a lot of history. Right now the fire service is doing what they can to save it,” Boger told NTB, as reported by VG and Aftenposten.
What Readers Still Want to Know
Why is the E16 closed but the railway open?
The E16 runs directly past the burning building, so police closed it just after 11 p.m. Friday and estimated it would stay shut for several hours. The railway line beside the manor remained open throughout, NRK reported.
Who owns the building now?
The manor was sold at a forced sale earlier this year and has a new owner, according to Glåmdalen as cited by VG. Police confirmed with the owner that the house was vacant at the time of the fire.
Will the building survive?
Probably not. By 11 p.m. Friday the entire roof structure and the stairwell were burning, and the operations log assessed that the building would be totally damaged, VG reported.
The fire was still burning late Friday night in the historic manor that once served as a museum and cultural park, with firefighters continuing efforts to contain a blaze that officials said would likely consume the 1858 building entirely.
Worth a look