Fear another week with forest fire in difficult conditions and with tired crew – news Vestfold and Telemark – Local news, TV and radio

After almost a week of firefighting work, the fire brigade is still working. Difficult conditions and an exhausted crew make the situation extra demanding. After they were able to put out the fire that flared up on Furunusteren on Wednesday afternoon, they fear that the same thing will happen on Thursday. The fire brigade is on site to monitor the situation. Photo: Viktor Tangestuen / news – A fairly strong wind has been reported throughout the evening, and this means that the fire can pick up again, says operations manager in the Nissedal fire service, Arnt Olav Storkås, to news on Thursday. Tired crew – Now we have been on the side on Saturday, and I, among others, am on the sixth day both night and day, says Storkås and continues: – We have had very good help from other agencies and counties, but it is difficult to get thanks people. We are working on laying the solitaire to endure the weekend. Storkås tells about people who take turns around the clock and are lucky if they manage to get a few hours of sleep. Firefighter Marius Grimstveit takes a deep breath with well-used trousers. Photo: Viktor Tangestuen / news – I start to notice the drive after six days, says Marius Grimstveit. Then it does not help when the staffing is small. – Some are on holiday and others work, so it is not as easy, says Storkås. According to him, there must be at least six people on site until Monday. They will only work with post-extinguishing and monitoring of the terrain. Demanding terrain The task leader explains how the wind raises the fire up the vegetation in the mountain wall. – At times we really only have to watch it burn, because it can only be extinguished by helicopter. A large area is affected by the fire that started on Saturday. Photo: Viktor Tangestuen / news – When do you think this fire will be extinguished? – No, completely extinguished is probably a long time before it burns inside the fire itself. It must glow in many places, but it will probably do so for a very long time. We will not be able to put it out. – We will have to catch up on the holiday later, says task leader Arnt Olav Storkås. Photo: Viktor Tangestuen / news He reckons that it will at least be the same condition for another week. 3000 meters scorched away The fire started when a tree fell over a high voltage line. – It was a half-rotten aspen that went obliquely across the lines and cut all three phases equally, said general manager of Vest-Telemark power team, Gunnar Snarteland, to news earlier this week. 3000 GOALS WITH FOREST ARE DESTROYED: This is what it looked like on Sunday 10 July, the day after the fire had started. Photo: Ole Oskar Eriksen / news



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