Several emergency vehicles were dispatched to Morö Backe late on Tuesday evening.
The alarm was triggered at 11 PM on Tuesday evening, reporting a fire in an apartment building on Morö Backe in Skellefteå. The apartment was significantly affected by heavy smoke. Six rescue units from Skellefteå and Bureå were dispatched to the scene.
According to Henrik Lindgren, the rescue service's force leader during the operation, the fire was caused by a pot in the kitchen dry boiling.
– There was a big fire in the kitchen, it was burning pretty badly. The apartment was filled with smoke, he says.
The rescue service's primary mission involved extinguishing the fire and clearing smoke from the apartment. They also found a person inside who required immediate care.
– We found a person in the apartment who we helped out and took to the ambulance. The person was conscious, says Lindgren.
Lindgren confirmed that the apartment is very badly damaged. During the operation, rescue teams checked neighbouring apartments and used fans to ventilate smoke-affected areas.
The apartment window was still open on Wednesday morning.
An ambulance transported three people to the hospital. Initially, police reported one victim was conscious and able to speak, with no immediate information on the others.
Later, the ambulance service clarified that three adults were affected: one suffered serious injuries from smoke inhalation, while two others sustained minor injuries.
– They have been taken to the emergency room in Skellefteå, stated Jonas Marklund, medical director for the ambulance service in Skellefteå, in an email to Norran.
Johann Kristiansson, head of the preliminary investigation, confirmed that the incident is being investigated as a crime.
– We have classified the incident as public danger negligence. At present, there is no suspicion that there was any intent, says Johann Kristiansson.
Police suspect the fire was due to a kitchen incident. Witnesses will be interviewed, and a technical examination is anticipated on Thursday.