Casting out 'villagers'

Longyearbyen's fire department and planning department evicted a man who illegally moved into a building near the airport on Monday. Now those responsible for Sjøområdet are also on alert.

Longyearbyen Fire Chief Jan Olav Sæter confirms suspicions that a barracks near the airport is being illegally used as a residence. A heater is the corner is supplied with fuel from a tank outside, with the exhaust passing straight through the wall.

Line Nagell Ylvisåker

Publisert fredag 29. september 2017 - 14:26

Fire Chief Jan Olav Sæter was advised people were possibly staying stay illegally in barracks below the fire drill field at the airport. The barracks was previously used by the local motorsport club, which is no longer active. During the weekend Sæter observed light there and checked the building. On Monday he saw there was light there and decided to go out and check. He also contacted The Governor of Svalbard's police department and went out to the scene with city planning department official Astrid Meek.

"Here are some people who have absolutely taken care of themselves and made themselves a fine place," Sæter says when Svalbardposten arrives at the site. "This is an ABC for how to go wrong."

Hazarous installations
Inside the building William Engesland, a city power inspector, is inspecting a fuse box connected to a generator outside the building. On the floor multiple batteries are connected serially.