Over 100 homes destroyed in Norway's largest residential fire since WWII

Outbreak and rapid spread

The fire broke out around 3:30 p.m. local time on Friday, July 17, in a townhouse in the Stenseth neighborhood of Krokstadelva, near Drammen, about 40 kilometers west of Oslo. Within minutes, flames engulfed several row houses and jumped to adjacent wooden buildings, aided by 30-degree Celsius heat, strong winds, and exceptionally dry vegetation. Thick black smoke covered the area, and the fire quickly spread into nearby forests. Police incident commander Frode Presthus described the scene as a catastrophe, noting that the steep terrain and dense wooden construction made the blaze extremely difficult to contain.

Evacuations and personal accounts

Authorities ordered immediate evacuations, and more than 400 residents fled their homes, many with only minutes to spare. Polish resident Grzegorz, who had moved to the neighborhood two months earlier, told PAP that police knocked on doors and gave residents just a few minutes to leave. He and his family spent the night in a hotel in central Drammen, unsure whether their home had survived. Another resident, Finn Roine, told Sky News that he watched the fire consume row after row of houses, including his daughter's home.

I saw my daughter's house. It has burned down now, and it's still burning. There are still flames there.

Hundreds of evacuees were taken to an emergency center set up by the municipality. The Catholic parish of St. Lawrence in Drammen offered assistance to affected families.

Firefighting efforts

More than 80 firefighters from several districts, along with Civil Defence units and six water-dropping helicopters, battled the flames through Friday night and into Saturday. The municipal water network was insufficient for the volumes needed, forcing authorities to deploy tanker trucks to supplement supply, according to emergency call center chief Glenn Espen Kustner. One firefighter suffered minor injuries, and several police officers and residents were treated for smoke inhalation. No deaths or missing persons were reported.

Aftermath and response

By Saturday lunchtime, officials said the fire was no longer spreading in residential areas, helped by a rainstorm that passed over Drammen in the morning. However, hotspots persisted in the forest, and firefighters expected extinguishing work to continue for many hours. Drones surveyed the damage, which left more than 100 homes completely destroyed. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre expressed condolences to those who lost their homes and thanked emergency crews.

My thoughts also go out to the fire and rescue crews and volunteers who are now taking part in the very demanding extinguishing work and are doing all they can to prevent the fire from spreading.

Mayor Kjell Arne Hermansen called the event a catastrophe for the city and said crisis services remained on high alert.

Cause unknown

The Norwegian Directorate for Civil Protection described the fire as the largest of its kind in modern times, surpassing the 2014 Laerdal fire that destroyed 17 homes and 35 commercial buildings. While the dry, hot weather clearly accelerated the spread, the initial cause of the fire remains under investigation. Red Cross worker Thomas Evjen noted that the recent heatwave had left the area extremely dry, making any ignition source potentially devastating.

It says something about the heat we've had lately. It's been very dry. So once the fire started, it spread quickly.