Western Norway has been ravaged by several forest fires in recent times. On Wednesday morning, the alarm went off in Hålandsdalen in Bjørnafjorden. An area around a transformer kiosk was fully engulfed in flames. – It is dry and very windy. It’s a bad combination, says Trond Landaas, acting duty commander at the 110 central. After half an hour, the fire brigade had gained control. On Tuesday, the Meteorological Institute issued a yellow danger warning for forest fires in Western Norway. Here, the danger is expected to diminish on Friday. Now parts of Nordland are also covered by the yellow danger warning. Parts of Nordland, as well as Western Norway, are included in a yellow fire warning. Both Telemark and Sørlandet have received plenty of snow in recent days. Now the temperature rises, and up to 60 millimeters of white and wet precipitation in one day, can cause locally difficult driving conditions. There is also a risk of flaking. For the outer reaches of Vestland, Møre and Romsdal, Trøndelag and in Nordland, on the other hand, dry terrain creates a problem. It probably happens a week after flaum caused damages of probably more than 100 million in Vestland. Forest fire in several places – There has been little rainfall lately and mostly nothing after November 12. So it has been a dry period, says state meteorologist Dina Stabel. It may also be dry for a while to come. In addition, it has been quite windy so that it has dried up well. Then the old vegetation from this summer will be dry. – If it first catches fire, it can spread easily as it blows quite a bit, says the state meteorologist. On Tuesday there was a full fire in old grass near several houses on Radøy in Nordhordland. – It was probably dramatic for those who lived here. Fortunately, the fire went in the right direction, said emergency manager Kurt Inge Hordvik at the police. On Sunday, a hiker discovered a smoldering fire in the forest at Kaupanger in Sogn. 300 liters of water were used before the fire was properly extinguished. Parish fire and rescue had to extinguish a forest fire at Kaupanger on Sunday 20 November. Photo: Tom Wergeland – Now it was discovered by a passer-by so that we were able to catch it early. In many cases, we have a bit of a long journey time and it can be difficult to get out to places where people want to light a fire, says Torill Anita Segtnan, head of the prevention department in Sogn fire and rescue. Danger also in winter Segtnan warns – and reminds of the danger of forest fires, which can also be in dry periods in winter. Torill Anita Segtnan reminds that it can be a criminal offense to light a fire if you have no control over it. Photo: Marte Iren Trøen / news – There are probably many who think that the fire ban is from 15 April to 15 September and that it should be okay to light fires everywhere when it is lifted, says Torill Anita Segtnan, head of the prevention department in Parish fire and rescue. In the same regulations as the fire ban, it is stated that one must be careful all year round. – We have seen fires in Lærdal in February and similar ones in Trøndelag in the same period, so the winter can be at least as dry as the summer, says Segtnan and underlines that it can be very dry in the forest floor even if it is outside the season with a fire ban. – Embers can lie down in the moss for a long time and enjoy themselves and if there is a gust of wind it can catch fire. Uncertain forecasts – The danger will not decrease until there is significant rainfall, says the state meteorologist. The forecasts for the coming days are uncertain. – There may be some rain on Friday, but the question is whether it is enough. The way it looks now, there may be more rain on Sunday, which could mean that the danger will decrease. On Thursday, the Meteorological Institute announces that the forest fire danger is expected to decrease on Friday. In the next few days, there will be increasing winds, especially in the mountain area, but also in the interior in the fjord and valley areas. There may be areas that are snow-free which will be a little drier than it usually is during this period. – Can be a criminal offense The Segtnan says it is forbidden, and can be a criminal offence, to light a fire without having control over it. – If we have to go out with a team to extinguish it, this costs us a lot of kroner. It can be a bill you have to pay even if you have been careless with your fire. – What do you have to think about if you are going to light a fire or fire up a barbecue in the woods and fields? – You must ensure that you are in a place where the substrate cannot ignite and that you have enough water to put out the fire before you leave, says Segtnan
ttn-69
Terrain in Western Norway was in full flames – risk of forest fire in several places – news Vestland
