In the summer of 2022, heat waves from the continent have swept into Southern and Eastern Norway. Temperatures of up to 30 degrees have provided good opportunities for swimming and ice cream. But it has also led to drought in many places. In West Telemark, farmers are struggling with their crops as a result of drought, and large areas of forest have been lost to fire in places such as Nissedal and Drangedal. The danger increases in the next few days Meteorologist Marit Berger says it has been hot and dry for a long time, and the next few days will also be like that. The Meteorological Institute has therefore issued a yellow danger warning for forest fires in Eastern Norway and parts of Agder. The forest fire danger increases from today and the next two days. The map below is taken from skogbrannfare.met.no. – We have many hot and dry days ahead of us, so the danger will probably increase in the whole area throughout the weekend. The Norwegian Meteorological Institute operates with two levels of danger warning when it comes to forest fires. Yellow is the lowest, and orange the highest. Berger says it is possible that the danger warning could be adjusted up to orange in several places during the weekend. Especially in the south. – We assess that continuously, she says. – Pay attention Per Olav Pettersen, fire chief in the Vestfold intermunicipal fire service, says they are aware of the situation. He says there have been several danger warnings this summer, and with good reason. – Locally it is very dry, but experience shows that it varies quite a bit. After all, we monitor the forest fire index every single day, and we are well prepared should something arise. Fire chief in the Vestfold intermunicipal fire service, Per Olav Pettersen, asks people to be aware. Photo: Hege Therese Holtung / news Pettersen emphasizes the importance of people reporting immediately if there is a fire. – We are very grateful to the public who call in and notify very early. We see that time and time again, both this summer and in the past, that it is often what means that we get the fire under control fairly quickly. He feels that people are good at taking precautions when it comes to using fire outside, but at the same time comes with an appeal to those who are going out into the woods and fields. – Please note that it is dry. Be careful with open flames and grilling, especially disposable grills. There is also a general fire ban now in the summer. Rain until next week It still does not look like the summer in the south and east of Norway will last forever. Meteorologist Marit Berger says that there may be some precipitation in the next week. – On Tuesday, it looks like they might get some rainfall in these areas again, but even on Monday it will at least be dry.
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