Two firefighters died from carbon monoxide poisoning in Verdal house fire

The deaths of two firefighters in a residential blaze in Verdal in January were caused by carbon monoxide poisoning, according to autopsy reports released Monday by Norwegian police.

Geir Otto Lein Johnson, 58, and Roger Kvello Hansen, 51, died while responding to the fire on January 7, police confirmed in a press statement. The investigation remains ongoing to determine the cause of the fire and why it resulted in fatal consequences.

“The autopsy report provides some clarification, but it is too early to conclude why the outcome was as tragic as it was,” said prosecutor Kjetil Bruland Sørensen, who is leading the case.

The homeowner remains under suspicion for negligently starting the fire, while the Mid-Norway Fire and Rescue Service (Brannvesenet Midt-IKS) is being investigated for potential violations of workplace safety regulations.

Police are awaiting a fire safety expert report, expected in May, which may provide further details on how the blaze developed. Authorities aim to complete the investigation before summer.

The fire broke out in a residential area outside Verdal in the early hours of January 7. The homeowner, who alerted emergency services, had evacuated but could not contain the fire. Two teams of firefighters in breathing apparatus entered the building. Contact was lost with Johnson and Hansen around 3:00 AM, roughly 30 minutes after they entered. Their bodies were recovered later that evening.

The deaths left the local community in mourning, with colleagues returning to the scene two days later in tribute.