firefighters confirm kitchen as origin of major Bærum house fire

Investigators believe a devastating blaze that tore through a row of terraced houses in Bærum, Norway, began in a kitchen, police confirmed Sunday, as forensic teams prepare to examine the fire-damaged site.

Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet reports that criminal investigation leader Pernille Fleischer of Oslo Police District stated witnesses had indicated the fire started in a kitchen, though the exact cause—whether cooking-related, a technical fault, or grease buildup—remains under investigation.

A male resident remains hospitalised in critical condition with severe smoke inhalation, after initially being classified as lightly injured. Police interviewed another resident as a victim in the case, Fleischer confirmed.

Firefighters credited coordinated efforts and drone assistance from police for preventing the entire row of houses from collapsing. Mathias Drange, incident commander for Asker and Bærum Fire and Rescue, explained that breaching the roof allowed crews to target the flames directly with water from aerial platforms.

“It was solid firefighting work that gave us control,” Drange told Dagbladet, noting the collaboration with police drone operators who guided teams to the most intense hotspots. The fire had fully engulfed parts of the structure, with thick black smoke visible as roofing materials and insulation fueled the blaze.

Forensic technicians are expected to sift through the remains of the charred buildings on Sunday to determine the fire’s precise origin and cause.