Police, ambulance and emergency services work on site and Rescue Services South states that there are forces from both Hässleholm and Kristianstad. It burns both in a building and in a container.
Buildings vacatedPolice have evacuated a nearby gym and the location around the building is also blocked off. A grocery store located next door has also evacuated the premises on its own initiative.
- I see thick black smoke and high flames. There are a lot of police and fire trucks in place, says a witness SVT has talked to.
The police suspect that the fire in the premises owned by the municipality of Hässleholm, but which was empty, is lit.
"There are some information that we have been given where witnesses have seen people in connection with the building, which means that we label it as a serious murder fire," says Katarina Rusin, a press informant at the Police.
- We can't see any natural reason for the building to start burning.
At present, no VMA (Important Notice to the Public) has been issued, but police are urging residents nearby who feel the smoke smell to go indoors and close windows and doors.
The building is to be an industrial premises and the police have no information that anyone has been injured.
- The information we have been given is that there should be no housing in the building, says Katarina Rusin.
According to Skånetrafiken, there is a stop for all train traffic right now due to the fire and the heavy smoke.
- We have installed replacement buses, but it is unclear how many people have arrived. A train with passengers is about to be evacuated, says Titti Unosdotter, business area manager.
Dan Olofsson, communicator at SJ's press news that the fire causes major disruptions in train traffic during the rest of the day.
- The train that is affected is five trains from Stockholm to Copenhagen and two trains from Copenhagen to Stockholm, he says.
- No trains pass or enter Hässleholm. The fire is so close to the tracks that all traffic is canceled. We have not received any forecast from the Swedish Transport Administration as the extinguishing work is still ongoing. And then we have ordered replacement buses and are looking over right now if we can redirect the trains. But it is a complicated job.
According to SJ, it is difficult to obtain replacement buses for anyone who would pass through Hässleholm and now they apply to the Swedish Transport Administration to divert traffic via Gothenburg.
- We offer all travelers to re-book or book off or cancel their trip. There will be major delays during the evening.