Fire homes destroyed in weekend blaze as firefighters plan ten-day operation

Firefighters are preparing for a ten-day operation to extinguish a major blaze that destroyed four homes in the Krokstadelva area over the weekend, police said on Monday.

The operation leader for the South-East Police District, Ståle Fuglås, told VG that the scale of the task reflects the intensity of the heat still present in the area.

More than 400 people were evacuated after the fire, which authorities say also poses a forest fire risk. Three firefighting helicopters continue to assist in the effort, according to NTB.

On Monday, excavators will begin removing layers of burnt debris from the site, while crews work both within the residential zone and in the surrounding forest.