Fire breaks out at Lithuania’s Foreign Ministry in Vilnius

A fire broke out Thursday morning at Lithuania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in central Vilnius, LRT reported. The fire was brought under control, and no injuries were reported.

The Fire and Rescue Department said smoke was detected in a ventilation shaft, but open flames did not spread into the rooms and the building was not damaged.

Firefighters, police officers and an ambulance crew were sent to the scene. Preliminary information indicated that an electrical motor in the ventilation shaft caught fire because of a malfunction and may have overheated.

Ministry security staff noticed the fire and called the emergency services. The ministry said arson had been ruled out, while a detailed fire investigation will be carried out.

Employees were evacuated after the alarm was triggered. The ministry has resumed operations, although staff whose workplaces are in one wing have been advised to work remotely on Thursday. The ministry said the damage was minimal.