Fire breaks out in Fredrikstad home

A residential fire in Fredrikstad has prompted authorities to urge nearby residents to close windows and turn off ventilation systems, Dagbladet reports.

Emergency services responded to open flames and heavy smoke at the scene after the blaze was reported at 19:28. By 20:20, police confirmed the risk of the fire spreading had decreased.

Operations manager Håkon Hatlen said it remains unclear whether anyone was inside the house. A safety perimeter was initially set at 150 meters due to smoke, later reduced to 50 meters.

Firefighters from Fredrikstad and Sarpsborg, along with other emergency services, are on site. Extinguishing efforts will continue through the evening, with additional cooling expected to take several hours, according to Øst 110 emergency center duty officer Espen Stabell.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.