A large forest fire that broke out on Friday near a townhouse area in Drammen (Norway) remains unextinguished, but evacuated residents are gradually being allowed to return to surviving homes. YLE reports, writes UNN.
Details
According to local rescuers, there is currently no threat of the fire spreading to the residential area, but pockets of smoldering remain in the adjacent forest. The main task of firefighters is the complete elimination of the forest fire, as high temperatures have penetrated deep into the ground.
The heat has penetrated deep underground, so we need to extinguish deeper. Many crews are currently working on this on site
Evacuees are allowed to return to surviving homes
Three firefighting helicopters are involved in extinguishing the fire, continuously dropping water on the fire sources. Three more aircraft are on standby. According to Warfjell, the firefighting efforts were complicated by prolonged drought, hot weather, difficult terrain, narrow streets, as well as gas cylinders and grills near residential buildings, which created additional danger for rescuers.
This is a disaster. The fire was enormous. The crews up there described it as unimaginable
Police Chief Geir Oustorp reported that law enforcement already has an idea of the fire's origin, but a technical inspection of the area will only begin after the temperature allows safe work at the site. The police also appealed to residents and witnesses to provide any information that could help determine the cause of the fire.
Despite the fire not yet being fully extinguished, evacuated residents have already begun to be allowed to return to their homes if they were not damaged by the fire. According to Oustorp, people will receive notifications about the possibility of returning from the municipality after the fire service and medics declare the relevant areas safe.
According to local authorities, hundreds of homes have been destroyed by the fire, and hundreds of people have been left homeless. This fire is already being called the largest in Norway in the last hundred years. Crown Prince Haakon is scheduled to visit Drammen on Sunday.
A massive fire in Norway has destroyed over 100 homes and continues to spread18.07.26, 00:38