About 200 firefighters were deployed to tackle a blaze at Adolf Hitler’s former mountain retreat, known as the Eagle’s Nest, in the state of Bavaria. German police reported on Saturday that they had detained a suspect following the fire at the Kehlsteinhaus, located on the peak of Obersalzberg in southern Germany.

Firefighting Efforts

Firefighters encountered flames rising high into the air as they approached the scene, only to find the building “completely ablaze,” according to police. Lisa Maier, a police spokesperson, noted that firefighters struggled to combat the fire due to its challenging location at an altitude of 1,834 metres (6,000 feet). Access to the building required “heavy breathing apparatus.”

Authorities were alerted to the fire on Friday evening, when a smoke detector triggered a fire alarm at approximately 9:50 PM (1950 GMT). While no injuries were reported, the cause of the fire remains unclear. However, German media suggested that investigators suspect it may have been the result of arson.