Emergency crews in Drammen are preparing for a massive ground operation on Sunday morning to continue battling a major fire in Krokstadelva that has already destroyed over 100 homes and forced the evacuation of more than 400 people. While the active fire front did not spread overnight, officials report that the situation remains unstable with no formal declaration of control.
Status of the fire in Krokstadelva
As of 4:00 a.m. Sunday, vaktleder Jan Rundtom at the Sørøst 110-sentral confirmed that the situation in the fire-stricken area of Krokstadelva remains unchanged. Although active firefighting efforts were paused when darkness fell on Saturday, crews maintained a constant watch throughout the night in both residential and forested zones.
According to Rundtom, there has been no further spread of the flames during the night. However, the area continues to burn, and officials expect intermittent flare-ups as long as combustible material remains. The presence of some precipitation and cooler, more humid air overnight has been described by Rundtom as a positive development for the containment effort.
Did You Know?
Did You Know? The fire, which broke out on Friday afternoon, has resulted in the loss of more than 100 boenheter (housing units) and the evacuation of over 400 residents, marking one of the most significant emergency events in the area in recent history.
Operational expectations for Sunday
The transition from aerial to ground-based tactics is scheduled for Sunday morning as daylight returns. During a press briefing on Saturday at 5:30 p.m., Geir Oustorp, acting police chief in Sørøst police district, emphasized that the lack of control stems from the persistent risk of the fire reigniting.
Rundtom noted that while the exact number of personnel required is still being determined, the upcoming work will be labor-intensive. “When it lightens tomorrow, some crews will enter the field again,” Rundtom said. “We will begin the overhaul, which involves heavy, physical, and manual work.”
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the fire currently under control?
No. As of Saturday evening, acting police chief Geir Oustorp stated that because the fire continues to smoke and retains the potential to flare up, it is not considered to be under control.
What is the plan for Sunday?
Crews will resume active firefighting from the ground as soon as it is light, focusing on manual, physical work to extinguish the remaining fire and prevent further flare-ups.
How long will the firefighting efforts last?
While the exact duration is uncertain, Rundtom indicated that based on previous experience with similar forest fires, the operation is expected to extend beyond Sunday and likely take more than a couple of days to fully extinguish.
How do you assess the impact of such large-scale evacuations on the local Krokstadelva community in the coming weeks?