There is likely negligence behind the fire at the Plumlov castle

Olomouc - The fire that broke out on Tuesday in one of the buildings of the castle complex in Plumlov, Prostějov region, was likely caused by negligence. This is indicated by the ongoing investigation by the firefighters, said firefighter spokesperson Vladimíra Hacsiková today to ČTK. The initially estimated damage of eight to 12 million crowns was reduced to three to five million crowns after inspecting the fire site. The fire affected the roof of one of the buildings, extending up to 30 meters, during the night on Tuesday.

According to Hacsiková, investigators from both the fire department and the police were present at the scene. Experts were also taking samples on site. "There was also a dog trained to search for accelerants, but it did not find anything. The cause is still under investigation, but it is most likely due to negligence. Samples will still be sent for expert analysis," the spokesperson added. Accelerants are substances that enhance and speed up combustion.

According to the firefighters, the origin of the fire was in a wood storage area, which was confirmed by the castle's curator Pavel Zástěra on Tuesday. He pointed out that there is no electricity in these places. According to the firefighter spokesperson, it is still not precisely known what caused the fire. Initial damage estimates talked about eight to 12 million crowns, but after mapping the consequences, they were significantly reduced.

The police today assessed the damage at three million crowns. Investigators, according to police spokesperson Miluše Zajícová, excluded technical failure and consider negligence as a possible cause of the fire. "Criminal proceedings have been initiated on suspicion of a crime of damage to someone else's property, for which the penal code prescribes a maximum sentence of imprisonment of up to three years," Zajícová said to ČTK.

The roof of one of the so-called low castle buildings caught fire around 01:00. Smoke and then flames were noticed by people living below the castle, who immediately called the firefighters. According to the curator, they prevented significantly greater damage.

The fire engulfed the roof over a length of up to 30 meters, with six fire units deployed at the site. There are technical spaces of the castle with storages at the fire location. According to the curator, the fire was quite extensive, destroying cladding over a length of up to 25 meters, and it will also be necessary to replace the roof trusses over a length of approximately 15 meters.

Investigators were working with three versions of the fire, which, in addition to negligence, included possible technical failure or deliberate arson.