On Sunday afternoon, a distressing photograph was shared in a Facebook group focused on Tartu, leading many to believe that the Tartu Kaubamaja (shopping center) was ablaze. This caused significant anxiety among local residents, who took to the comments section to express their concerns and speculations about the situation. Some even jokingly suggested rival businesses might be sabotaging each other by starting fires.

Fortunately, the Tartu Kaubamaja was not on fire. Reports indicate that the fire was actually at a nearby waste facility at the beginning of Ülikooli Street. Leane Morits, the press representative for the South Region of the Rescue Board (Päästeamet), confirmed that at 12:07 PM, the emergency center received a call regarding a fire in central Tartu. The fire involved a large paper container, and immediate action was taken by the local fire services.

Firefighters from Tartu, Annelinna, Tabivere, and Tõrvandi responded quickly to the incident, managing to localize the fire and extinguish it safely without posing any direct threat to surrounding buildings. Morits reassured the public that the situation was under control and that the initial panic sparked by the misinformation on social media was unwarranted.