A fire broke out at Fit Hostel in Reykjanesbær just before noon today, causing significant damage to the upper floor of the building.
MBL.is reported shortly after the fire began that no injuries had been sustained by residents but firefighters were searching all rooms in the building to confirm that all tenants had been safely evacuated. The fire began in a room on the second floor of the hostel and smoke and ash had spread extensively.
This afternoon mbl.is further reported that police in Suðurnes have taken a male resident of the hostel into custody under suspicion of having started the fire. As the investigation is ongoing no further information has yet to be released about the suspect of the origins of the fire.
Fit Hostel is well known as being the venue where asylum seekers awaiting review of and ruling on their applications are housed while in Iceland.