Bavarian police said the Nazi-era Kehlsteinhaus above Berchtesgaden was burning throughout when crews arrived Friday, Oct. 23. A person was provisionally detained as investigators examined the fire.
Police reported that no one was found inside and no injuries were known at the time of their update. They counted about 200 emergency and rescue personnel in the operation, including fire services in six municipalities, the district fire inspectorate, the Bavarian Red Cross, mountain rescue teams and police. Police have not confirmed a link between the detained person and the blaze.
Bayerischer Rundfunk said in an update published at 3:15 a.m. EDT (07:15 UTC) Saturday that webcam images no longer showed visible fire at the site. The broadcaster said authorities had not confirmed whether firefighting had ended and described the building as badly damaged.
The Kehlsteinhaus stands 1,834 meters above sea level. The Berchtesgaden tourism authority says Adolf Hitler visited infrequently, mainly to meet diplomats and other foreign visitors. The site’s official history says it was built in 1937–38 for political receptions and dates its mountain restaurant service to 1952. Traunstein Criminal Police are investigating the cause.
