Fire danger not over in Norwegian town after major blaze

The threat of fire has not yet passed in the Norwegian town of Krokstadelva, even as firefighters work to control a significant blaze that has devastated the area. "It is too early to declare the fire under control," stated police operations leader Frode Presthus to the Norwegian news agency NTB, citing residual heat in the ground that could spread with the wind.

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The fire service says it is too early to declare the fire under control, because there is so much heat in the ground. There are embers that can spread with the wind.

The town, located near Drammen, experienced what is described as the largest fire in Norway in recent times on Friday. The inferno has left more than 100 homes severely damaged, forcing the evacuation of over 400 residents. While police had initially reported the fire as under control on Saturday evening, a revised assessment is expected on Monday.

Presthus indicated that the danger is likely to continue for some time, with authorities planning to remain present throughout the night to manage any flare-ups. Earlier on Sunday, he informed NRK that some evacuated residents in safer areas of the town were beginning to return home.

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It will likely take longer before the danger is over.

The article notes that the fire service is actively working to extinguish the blaze, and the situation remains dynamic. The full extent of the damage and the timeline for residents to return are still uncertain as the firefighting efforts continue.

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The fire service says that it is too early to declare the fire under control, because there is so much heat in the ground. There are embers that can spread with the wind.