Firefighters still battling wildfire in Krokstadelva, Drammen

KROKSTADELVA (Dagbladet) — Firefighters remained unable to fully contain a large blaze in Krokstadelva, Drammen, south-western Norway, overnight into Saturday, with helicopters continuing to drop water on smouldering terrain.

More than 100 homes have been destroyed since the fire broke out Friday afternoon in a row of terraced houses, according to local fire authorities. Over 400 residents have been evacuated, Drammen mayor Kjell Arne Hermansen said.

Operations leader Espen Reite, of the South-East police district, reported at 09:30 that scattered fires persisted north-east of the affected housing, but there was no immediate risk of further spread. Rain showers over the area were helping to ease conditions.

Village emergency services said one civilian and one civil defence volunteer had been taken to hospital with smoke inhalation, one firefighter had minor injuries and eight police officers had inhaled smoke during evacuations. No-one was reported missing.

Westerly winds were pushing flames away from homes and towards woodland behind the estate, said Glenn Espen Kustner, duty commander at South-East 110 emergency call centre.

Reporters at the scene described a war-zone landscape of charred cars and burnt-out buildings, with grey smoke rising from the scorched slope where the terraced houses once stood.