A massive fire continues to engulf the residential area of ​​Krokstadelva, in the Drammen municipality of Norway, where more than 100 homes have been completely destroyed and over 400 residents have been forced to evacuate. The flames broke out on Friday afternoon on a hill and, favored by hot weather, wind and steep terrain, spread rapidly towards residential areas.

According to Norwegian public broadcaster NRK, the fire is still not fully under control, although the situation has improved compared to the day before. Authorities say that several active fires remain in the area, while the risk of spreading has significantly decreased. “There are still several fires that teams are assessing and working to neutralize,” said Jan Helge Kaiser, head of the Vestfold Intermunicipal Fire Service. More than 100 firefighters, five fire engines, six helicopters, police forces, as well as the Norwegian Civil Protection and Armed Forces are involved in the operation. Lars Jacob Heim, director of the Directorate of Civil Protection and Emergency Planning (DSB), described the event as the largest fire of its kind in the country’s modern history.


“This is the largest fire of its kind we have recorded in modern times. Fortunately, there are no reports of casualties or serious injuries,” he said. According to the Norwegian Police, the fire is believed to have started in a two-story apartment building and then spread to surrounding homes. There are no reports of missing persons or casualties so far. Two people have been taken to hospital due to smoke inhalation, one of them a member of the Civil Protection. A firefighter also suffered minor injuries, while eight police officers received medical treatment for smoke inhalation. Authorities have also put seven more helicopters on standby in southern Norway. So far, more than 800 liters of water have been dropped from the air to contain the flames. Fire expert Ruben Dobler Strand, a researcher at Høgskulen på Vestland, told NRK that high temperatures and a lack of rainfall have created ideal conditions for the fire to spread. According to him, the combination of dry wooden houses, steep terrain and southerly winds caused the flames to spread rapidly throughout the area.

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