Norwegian major fire under control

 

TT 

Published 05:51Updated 09:16

  

A storm expected in Drammen may mitigate the fire. Photo: Thomas Fure/NTB/TT

The fire in Drammen, Norway, is under control.

– But we are planning an operation all day as it is still burning in several places, says fire chief Jan Helge Kaiser to NTB.

According to him, it is still burning in both the residential area and the adjacent forest area.

The extensive fire, which started in a row house area and has destroyed over 100 homes, continues to require major efforts. Over 400 people have been evacuated and have taken refuge with friends and acquaintances and hotels.

During the night to Saturday, firefighters struggled to contain the fire that had spread to several places in the terrain.

The fire may be one of the largest residential fires in Norway in over 100 years, according to NTB.

Jonas Korani is one of several hundred who were evacuated on Friday. He had just returned home when he heard a strange noise on Friday afternoon.

– I thought maybe the neighbor was mowing the grass or something, he tells VG.

When he looked out the window, he saw that the neighbor's house was in flames. He ran out into the garden and tried to stop the fire from spreading. But the flames were getting closer.

– It was too hot. I couldn't stand it anymore, says Korani.

When he went back into the house, he heard the windows start to crack and then explode.

– It was so scary, says Korani, who has lived in the house since 2016.

– Everything is gone, he tells VG from a hotel room in Drammen.

During the evacuation effort, a firefighter suffered minor burns. A person from the civil defense has suffered smoke inhalation and has been taken to hospital. Eight police officers have been examined by medical personnel after inhaling smoke during the operation.