Rescue teams struggle to locate pets amid Krokstadelva wildfire

KROKSTADELVA (Dagbladet) — Rescue workers and volunteers are racing to locate pets left behind after a wildfire destroyed hundreds of homes in Krokstadelva late Friday.

Police incident commander Geir Bodal told Dagbladet early Saturday that domestic animals, particularly cats, are proving difficult to capture because they instinctively return to familiar areas within the evacuation zone.

“Pets are hard to catch. They want to go back where they belong,” Bodal said. “For now they are outside. Some have tried to bring the animals in, but there are still many left.”

Social media posts in local Facebook groups have already begun filling with pleas from residents searching for missing cats, including one black cat with a white face marking.

Rain began falling over the fire zone Saturday morning, but authorities have not yet assessed the full extent of damage or confirmed any fatalities.

Asker and Bærum Fire and Rescue personnel assisted in retrieving at least one cat found wandering the area.

Vestfold Intermunicipal Fire Service chief Jan Helge Kaiser said in a Facebook update Saturday morning that the blaze is under control.