Fire homes destroyed as wildfire spreads in Krokstadelva

KROKSTADELVA / OSLO (Dagbladet) — Firefighters battled a fast-moving wildfire in Krokstadelva for 31 hours before gaining control on Saturday night, destroying at least four homes and forcing the evacuation of roughly 400 people.

The blaze began Friday afternoon as a house fire that quickly spread through neighboring row houses and into surrounding forest. Emergency services were first alerted at 15:39, and within seven minutes the fire had jumped to three or four additional units, according to Kristin Nilsebråten, who lives about 200 meters from the initial ignition point.

By 16:30 the fire had grown into a major incident, prompting the local fire brigade to request assistance from stations in Buskerud, Akershus and Oslo. Two helicopters were dispatched, and civil defense authorities were placed on standby. At 18:20 police estimated that 50 homes had been destroyed; the toll doubled before nightfall.

No injuries or missing persons have been reported, though many residents lost their homes. Andreas Krog Halvorsen, who had lived in his house for 15 years, watched as the fire spread from one unit to the next across the street. “One house caught fire, then another, then another, until the whole street was burning,” he said.

By 19:00 four more helicopters joined the effort, bringing the number of firefighters on scene to more than 60. One firefighter was treated for minor injuries. The fire advanced southward, prompting further evacuations. Drammen municipality activated a crisis team and opened an evacuation center at Stenseth school, with a secondary shelter at the Scandic Hotel Ambassadeur in central Drammen.

Evacuees arrived with luggage, a few belongings or nothing at all. Conversations focused on emotional support, personal updates and inquiries about neighbors and friends. Seventeen-year-old Adrian Corneliussen, who was evacuated with his dog, said neighbors alerted him before helping him leave.

By 21:00 police reported that more than 100 homes had been destroyed, though containment measures remained effective.