Wildfire in Fitjar forces evacuation of 15 homes as flames spread

A rapidly spreading wildfire in Fitjar, western Norway, has forced the evacuation of 15 homes, with emergency services battling to contain the blaze before nightfall, Dagbladet reports.

Resident Espen Brask Nordfonn described the scene as flames engulfed the forest behind his home. “It was burning like hell back there. The fire was raging—it was pretty dramatic,” he told the newspaper. Nordfonn, who lives closest to the fire’s origin, was among those ordered to leave as the situation worsened.

“At first, it looked like firefighters had it under control. Then it suddenly flared up again, burning intensely, and we were evacuated,” he said. Despite the threat to his property, he remained calm: “The most important thing is that people are safe. But it would be awful if the house burns down.”

Emergency crews, including firefighters, helicopters, and civil defence personnel, were deployed after the first alert at 5:03 PM local time. By evening, authorities issued an emergency alert warning residents in the Koløy and Korsvik areas of uncontrolled flames and heavy smoke. Fitjar’s mayor, Wenche Tislevoll, called the situation “serious and dramatic,” noting it was escalating “in the wrong direction.”

No injuries have been reported. Firefighters worked urgently to suppress the blaze before darkness, with Nordfonn praising their efforts: “They’re doing a fantastic job—working preventively and will keep at it through the night if needed.”

The tight-knit community has rallied around evacuees, with Nordfonn’s parents offering shelter and neighbors checking in. “It’s a small village with a close community. Everyone knows what’s happening, and they care,” he said.