Eight evacuated as row house fire destroys two homes in Drammen

A severe overnight fire in Drammen left two homes completely destroyed and forced eight residents to evacuate, local emergency services reported Friday morning.

The blaze broke out in a three-unit row house shortly before 4 a.m., according to Dagbladet. Police received the initial alert from the 110 emergency centre after a resident reported the fire. Neighbours assisted in evacuating occupants by knocking on doors, operations manager Marius Daffinrud Fosvold told the newspaper.

Firefighters arrived within ten minutes but found the structure fully engulfed. “The age of the buildings suggests poor fire separation between units, allowing flames to spread through the attic,” said Knut Schjølset, duty officer at the 110 emergency centre.

Two of the three units were declared uninhabitable, while the third is being ventilated in hopes residents may return. Authorities have not yet determined the cause, though investigators noted heavy fire damage to the roof structure upon arrival.

Evacuated residents were referred to municipal emergency services, though many are staying with relatives or friends. Police criminal technicians are examining the scene.