Prisoners put out fire, save prison

Fyresdal, Norway -- A group of prisoners at Arendal Prison in Fyresdal, Norway, were rewarded after they chose to fight a fire rather than use the opportunity to flee.

Firefighters arrived about 40 minutes after the blaze was reported, but the flames had been extinguished and a prisoner sleeping near the fire had been rescued before they made it to the scene, Aftenposten reported Tuesday.

"I don't dare think what would have happened if the prisoners themselves hadn't discovered the fire and helped fight it," prison guard Daniel Trollsas said.

"We couldn't let such a nice prison burn down," said Ronny Stenberg, one of the prisoners who fought the flames.

"I've done time in a closed prison, I wouldn't wish that on anyone," Stenberg said. He said that was part of the reason prisoners worked so hard to save their prison.

The prison held a party for the prisoners in celebration of their heroism with cake and candy.

"About 10-12 years ago prisoners took responsibility and saved my life when one of the inmates went completely berserk and tried to kill me. Now I have had another chance to experience that this prison is full of so many good and reasonable people that when things get dangerous, it is the prisoners that take charge," Trollsas said.

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