Cigarette may have started fire at Krásna Hôrka Castle

Two adolescent boys are believed to have started a fire which led to the destruction of the roof and several museum exhibits at Krásna Hôrka Castle in eastern Slovakia on Saturday, March 10. It is thought that were trying to light a cigarette, but accidentally set fire to dry grass in a nearby meadow from which fire spread, via wind-borne embers, to the castle’s wooden roof, the SITA newswire reported.

Two adolescent boys are believed to have started a fire which led to the destruction of the roof and several museum exhibits at Krásna Hôrka Castle in eastern Slovakia on Saturday, March 10. It is thought that were trying to light a cigarette, but accidentally set fire to dry grass in a nearby meadow from which fire spread, via wind-borne embers, to the castle’s wooden roof, the SITA newswire reported.

A police investigator has already launched a criminal prosecution on charges of general endangerment. Košice regional police spokesperson Jana Mésarová told SITA that the site is still being checked by experts.

The damage caused by the fire on Saturday was very extensive, and on Sunday evening another small fire broke out when smouldering timbers were set alight by strong winds. Fortunately, firefighters from Rožňava and Košice, and volunteers from nearby Štítnik, plus army personnel managed to extinguish the flames, the Sme daily reported.

Meanwhile, the leader of the Hungarian Coalition Party (SMK), József Berényi, said he had contacted the deputy prime minister of Hungary, Zsolt Semjén, to ask him for financial help in repairing the damage and rebuilding the castle. SMK spokesperson Helena Fialová said that the Hungarian prime minister had accepted the request and had already informed Slovak government representatives that his country was willing to help, the TASR newswire reported.

Sources: SITA, TASR, Sme

For more information about this story please see: Krásna Hôrka Castle destroyed in fire (video included)

Compiled by Radka Minarechová from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.

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