A fire at the historic Lunderbye Nor manor in Kongsvinger, Norway, has forced the closure of the E16 highway overnight.
The blaze broke out at the 1850s manor beside the E16 and railway. Flames rise over the roof. The fire burns intensely on the second floor, according to operations leader Anna Boger of the Innlandet police district. Firefighters, police and ambulance crews are on the scene.
The E16 will remain closed for a couple of hours into the night, while the railway stays open. Just after 11 p.m. on Friday, police reported that the fire was still burning. The entire roof structure and staircases are engulfed. Police expect the building to be a total loss.
"We are aware that this is a dignified house with much history," Boger said. "Right now the fire department is working as hard as they can to save it." Police have advised neighbors to keep their windows closed and stay away from the smoke.
Lunderbye Nor, also known as Nor Manor, was built by master builder Johan Heinrich Günther Schüssler in 1858-59. In recent years it has operated as a museum and cultural park under the name Kulturparken Nor.
