Fire service urges tighter security after third Toppstöðin blaze

The fire at Toppstöðin in Elliðaárdalur on Monday was at least the third incident attended by the Capital Area Fire and Rescue Service at the building, mbl.is reports. Birgir Finnsson, the service’s acting chief, said the previous fires had been minor.

Finnsson said the main concern was not the building itself but unauthorised people entering it. Empty buildings of this kind often attract trespassers, creating potential dangers, he said.

Owners try to secure such buildings, but people often find new ways to get inside. Finnsson said it was therefore important to secure Toppstöðin properly and start activities there as soon as possible.

The fire service finished its work on Monday evening. Most of the time was spent clearing smoke from the building, which had filled with smoke. Because there was little wind, firefighters had to use fans to ventilate it.

Police and the owner’s insurance company then took over the scene. A police investigation into the cause of the fire is being conducted today, while the insurance company plans to improve the building’s security.

Finnsson said he did not want to comment on whether Toppstöðin should be demolished, saying that was for others to assess. The key issue, he said, was making sure the building was properly closed off.

Asbestos is present in the building’s exterior cladding, at least in the section where firefighters worked. Finnsson said the material was difficult to burn and that the main risk arose when it was disturbed or demolished, releasing asbestos dust.

He also stressed that smoke from a fire is always unhealthy, whether or not asbestos is present. The fire service contacted the Reykjavík Health Inspectorate about the asbestos and smoke that spread over nearby neighbourhoods. A representative visited the scene on Monday and plans to examine the situation more closely today.