– We see that the forest fires need more and more resources to stop them, says fire chief in Kristiansand Jan Røilid. As a result of little rainfall in southern Norway, the fire service in the whole of Agder has introduced a total ban on open fires. The fire brigades in Larvik and Sandefjord have also adopted the same ban. From Friday, there is an orange danger level for forest fires in Agder, the whole of Austlandet and Sør Rogaland. Several businesses are now taking the calls from the fire service seriously, and are taking their own measures to reduce the risk of fire. Among them is the historic Setesdalsbanen in Vennesla, which opens for the season on Sunday. Glowing coal The water is boiling, and coal is glowing from the over 100-year-old steam locomotive that runs from Grovene to Røyknes station in Vennesla. But on Thursday they announced that the train will not run as normal. – It’s a solid grill on steel wheels. We cannot use the steam train when the risk of forest fires is so great, says department head of Setesdalsbanen Øystein Aas. When so much coal is fired, there is a great risk of sparks. However, those who have bought tickets need not despair. They get out on wheels, but a diesel train has to go in as a substitute. – I think people want to get out anyway. Then the steam locomotive has to wait until the ground gets a little wetter. It was Vennesla newspaper that first wrote about the case. Steam locomotives on the Setesdalsbanen must stand still as long as the risk of forest fires is high in Southern Norway, says department head Øystein Aas. Photo: Christina Hårvik Nieuwlaat / news Full stop for edging The dry weather also affects vegans in the south. The Norwegian Public Roads Administration takes the risk of fire seriously and stops all curb cuts along European roads, national and county roads. This applies to Agder, Vestfold and Telemark and old Buskerud. The activity can be very fire-hazardous as it is now, says Tore Jan Hansen, director of the Norwegian Road Administration. – Edging is done with a chain or metal knife. It goes around with enormous speed, and then there are quick sparks if he hits large stones. Hansen says that they will not consider starting the work again, as long as there is no rain. – This is an important social responsibility and therefore an easy choice to make. There must be a proper downpour before we start again. The Norwegian Public Roads Administration has chosen to stop work with edge mowing due to the risk of forest fires. Photo: Bård Asle Nordbø / Norwegian Public Roads Administration Logging stopped in pine forest Fire Chief Røilid says there are several people he knows of who have put measures in place when the ground becomes dry. Forestry is one of them. – That was before we came up with the first index finger. They have equipment for putting out fires in the forest, says Røilid. This move has come about in recent years, based on larger fires from previous years. Røilid says that there is a big difference in which forest area is suitable for logging for longer than others. – I know that Birkenes municipality has discontinued all felling in pine forest because it is drier than spruce forest. The last time the forestry industry stopped operations was in 2019. Since then, summers have been terrible in terms of rainfall. But the fire chief believes that a complete shutdown could become a reality this year, if the sun continues to dry the forest floor. Fire chief in Kristiansand Jan Røilid says people must be extra careful if they are going to barbecue on the terrace or in the garden. Photo: Christina Hårvik Nieuwlaat / news Tourists beware Røilid says the fire service has also sent information about the fire danger to the ferry company in Southern Norway. – We have a concern for our tourists who come from Germany and the Netherlands. As a rule, they do not read Norwegian news and may not have understood the ban on open fires. Glitre Nett also monitors the fire hazard situation around their high-voltage masts. For the time being, they have not implemented extraordinary measures. – We still have a close dialogue with our contractors and reminded them that in all work that is carried out, consideration must be given to the forest fire risk and to consider extra safety measures, says Kristine Pedersen in Glitre Nett.
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– A solid grill on wheels – news Sørlandet – Local news, TV and radio
