In Děčín, the investigation into the fire of historical cottages continues

Rynartice - Investigators returned today to the two historic cabins that were destroyed by a large fire on Friday. On Friday, it was not possible to examine the site due to the high heat, so the investigation continued today, said Veronika Hyšplerová, a spokesperson for the North Bohemian police, to ČTK. However, according to her, the investigation into the cause of the fire will still take some time, and it has not yet been possible to determine the extent of the damage.

"Today, investigators from the police returned to the site together with a fire investigator and examined the fire scene. A dog handler with a dog specially trained to search for accelerants was also present," added the spokesperson. At this moment, she stated, it is not possible to rule out any of the potential causes. "We have also involved an expert on chimneys and chimney systems," Hyšplerová added. According to her, further information is unlikely to be available before Sunday.

The hunting lodge Na Tokáni, built at the beginning of the 20th century, is a cultural monument, and the fire practically destroyed two of the six buildings on the site, resulting in damages in the millions. "There are investigators on site, as well as two firefighting units that are assisting," said an operational officer of the Fire and Rescue Service of the Ústí Region to ČTK.

The fire was discovered by park rangers on Friday morning. Firefighters had to declare a third degree fire alarm, with dozens of firefighters on site and a helicopter also providing assistance. The fire spread to the forest, and firefighters were able to bring it under control only after noon in the inaccessible rocky terrain.

The fire site known as Na Tokáni is a popular destination for tourists. The area used to belong to the Kinski family, and it was built in the style of a Swiss chalet. "The buildings are interesting in that they look like log cabins, but mostly they are brick structures clad in wood. This is unfortunately visible even from the charred remains, with walls and chimneys protruding," said Antonín Kadlec from the National Heritage Institute (NPÚ) to ČTK. The burned houses have a private owner who wanted to open them for tourists on Monday.