Flera radhus i lågor – storbrand utanför Oslo – Göteborgs-Posten

Scale of the Destruction in Krokstadelva

Emergency services received the first report of the fire at 15:36 local time on Friday. By 20:00, officials confirmed that the fire had reached catastrophic proportions, consuming more than 100 homes in the residential area of Krokstadelva, located four Swedish miles (40 kilometers) southwest of Oslo. According to reports, the fire originated in a single townhouse before spreading across the street, through the ground, and eventually into nearby forest terrain by 16:30.

Witnesses and residents described a chaotic scene as the fire jumped from building to building. Marita Røine, a resident affected by the disaster, told VG: Vi förlorar allt vi har (We are losing everything we have). The intensity of the blaze was such that witnesses reported seeing the fire spread from house to house until all homes on the street were in flames. Local authorities and media reported that multiple explosions were heard from within the fire zone.

Emergency Response and Evacuation Efforts

The situation remains fluid as fire crews from several surrounding municipalities assist the Drammen fire department. Six helicopters and over 100 firefighters have been deployed to perform water bombing operations in an effort to contain the flames. Despite these efforts, the fire remained out of control as of Friday night, continuing to threaten residential areas south of the initial outbreak site.

Drammen Mayor Kjell Arne Hermansen confirmed that the municipality is establishing crisis centers to support the displaced population. Hundreds of residents have been evacuated from their homes. While there are no reports of civilian injuries, one firefighter has been hospitalized with minor injuries, according to NRK. Glenn Espen Kustner, the duty officer for the fire department, described the gravity of the situation to Dagbladet: Räddningstjänsten är väldigt pressad av situationen i området. Det brinner i många enheter, och flera radhus står i lågor (The emergency services are very pressured by the situation in the area. It is burning in many units, and several townhouses are in flames).

Official Assessment of the Crisis

Police incident commander Frode Presthus characterized the event as a catastrophe during a series of hourly press briefings held to update the public. Det är klart det är en katastrof, (It is clear that this is a catastrophe) Presthus told VG. As of 21:00, police stated they did not have a complete overview of whether all residents had been successfully evacuated and urged anyone with information regarding missing persons to contact the police.

Authorities have issued strict instructions for residents in the vicinity to remain away from the area, keep windows and doors closed, and turn off ventilation systems. Bjørnsund, representing the police, noted: Det hörs explosioner från området och vi ber allmänheten att inte gå in mot området (Explosions are heard from the area and we ask the public not to go toward the area).

Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre expressed his reaction to the disaster in a statement provided to the Norwegian news agency NTB: Min djupaste medkänsla går till dem som har evakuerats och alla som har förlorat sina hem (My deepest sympathy goes to those who have been evacuated and everyone who has lost their homes).

Current Challenges

The severity of the event has drawn comparisons to historical incidents, with some reports citing it as the most significant fire in the area since 1923. The fire remains a critical public safety concern for the city of Drammen, which has a population of 106,000.