Shock and disbelief reign in Drammen after devastating fire

A devastating fire in Drammen, Norway, has rendered hundreds of residents homeless, marking the worst peacetime fire disaster in the country since 1923. Residents described the scene as one of shock and disbelief.

Kenneth Evensen, a father of four, watched his home burn in Krogstadelva, part of Drammen. He described the fire as uncontrollable, with the fire department arriving late. Evensen noted the high temperatures in Norway recently, suggesting the conditions were ripe for such a disaster. He recounted driving with his parents to see if their homes were safe, only to witness the entire row of houses, including his own, engulfed in flames.

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We are in shock. Shock and disbelief prevail here; such a large fire has not occurred in our town for a long time, I think the last time was in 1866.

Evensen mentioned that many Icelanders living in Stenseth, Krogstadelva, have also lost their homes. He stated, "We are in shock. Shock and disbelief prevail here; such a large fire has not occurred in our town for a long time, I think the last time was in 1866." The fire is believed to have destroyed over a hundred houses, surpassing the scale of the 2014 Lærdal fire, where 42 houses were lost.

Firefighters have been battling the blaze since the first report at 3:36 PM, with six fire department helicopters flying between the fire and the Drammen River in an attempt to contain it. However, as of midnight, the fire department had not gained control. The scale of the destruction is immense, with many families displaced and facing an uncertain future.

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When I looked up the hill towards my home, I saw the entire row of houses where we live burning, and I can tell you, because you are writing for Icelandic readers, that many Icelanders live there in Stenseth in Krogstadelva who have lost their homes.