Major fire in Krokstadelva displaces hundreds as homes destroyed

Hundreds of residents have been evacuated after a major fire tore through a row of houses in Krokstadelva, a suburb of Drammen, on Friday afternoon.

Dagbladet reports that more than 100 residential units have been destroyed and that firefighters have yet to gain control of the blaze. Six fire-fighting helicopters were deployed to assist ground crews battling the spread of the fire.

Adrian Corneliussen, 17, was alone at home with his dog Armani when neighbours alerted him to the emergency. He was evacuated to a reception centre at Scandic Ambassadeur in Drammen, where he learned that his house was among the few still standing in the row.

“I was inside with headphones on when I heard loud knocking,” Corneliussen told Dagbladet. “Neighbours evacuated me right away.” He fled with Armani to his grandmother’s house nearby before being taken to the centre.

Corneliussen’s mother was at a shopping centre when the fire broke out; the rest of the family is expected to join him at a hotel for the night. Authorities have told evacuees to prepare for stays of two to three nights.

Drammen municipality activated a crisis management team and set up an evacuation and family support centre at the hotel. The first gathering point was Stenseth school, from which transport was arranged to the hotel in central Drammen.

Police say the exact number of evacuees is difficult to determine because many left independently or were not at home when the fire started. Mayor Kjell Arne Hermansen told Dagbladet that many people have lost their homes and that the municipality is working with the Red Cross and Norwegian People’s Aid to support those affected.

Fire incident commander Frode Presthus in the South-East police district confirmed that more than 100 residential units have been destroyed and that the fire remains uncontained.