Over 100 homes have been destroyed by a massive wildfire raging in southern Norway, with hundreds of residents forced to flee their homes, according to emergency services. The fire broke out in a residential area in Krokstadelva, in the municipality of Drammen, approximately 50 kilometers west of Oslo, and quickly spread to a nearby forested area, causing widespread destruction and triggering a large-scale emergency response.
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Around 80 firefighters, Civil Defense units, and six firefighting helicopters are battling the blaze, which remains out of control. During the night, however, the helicopters were forced to suspend operations, leaving ground forces to face the flames alone. Authorities warned that the loss of aerial support poses a significant challenge and could hamper efforts to contain the fire’s spread.
Norway: “The fire spread at unbelievable speed”
Harrowing eyewitness accounts have emerged from residents who watched the flames tear through entire rows of homes within minutes. Finn Røine, a resident of Drammen, described the terrifying moment he learned his daughter’s home had been engulfed in flames. “I received a call from my daughter telling me that three apartment blocks below her flat had caught fire. A few minutes later, my son and I drove here to see what was happening,” he said.
“When we arrived, it seemed brighter because the fire was lower down, but it spread incredibly fast. We then watched the flames consume one row of houses after another. That’s when I saw my daughter’s house. It has burned completely now, and it’s still burning. There are still flames there.”
The head of the police operation, Fronde Prestous, stated that the fire has now turned into a large wildfire moving southward. “The fire is spreading into the forest, so it has become a larger wildfire moving south. The plan is for the fire service, in cooperation with Civil Defense, to tackle the wildfire from the south and extinguish it moving northward, toward the fire,” he said. “That is what they will now attempt to do. However, as I said, the fire has not yet been brought under control. It continues to move.”
🇳🇴 Pożary w norweskim Drammen, niedaleko Oslo.
Spłonęło ponad 100 domów. Służby nie mogą zapanować nad żywiołem.
Jedno z moich ulubionych miasteczek w Norwegii. Znam to miejsce jak własną kieszeń 🤯
Drammen to siedziba spadkowicza z norweskiej Ekstraklasy, Strømsgodset IF.…
— Piotr Piotrowicz (@Piotrowicz17) July 17, 2026
Strong winds pose a major challenge
Weather conditions, particularly strong winds, remain the authorities’ greatest concern. Officials estimate it could take until Saturday before the fire is brought under control. So far, one person has received medical attention for minor smoke inhalation, while one firefighter sustained a minor injury during operations. There are no reports of missing persons.
The municipality has set up evacuation and support centers for residents forced to leave their homes, while authorities continue to investigate the cause of the fire.
The Mayor of Drammen, Kjell Arne Hermansen, described the situation as unprecedented for the area. “A fire this large in Drammen, affecting so many residents, leaves you in shock. It is important to follow the instructions of the fire service and the police,” he said.
“The Municipality of Drammen has activated its crisis staff and crisis management system. We are working as a municipality, but this is a major fire affecting all of Drammen,” he concluded.
