– Money runs fast on these big fires, says fire chief Rigman Pentz in Indre Østfold. On 30 May, a large forest fire broke out in the Trømborg Mountains in Indre Østfold. Firefighters battled the flames for several days. Forest fires cost society, wildlife and nature dearly. Fire chief in Indre Østfold, Rigman Pentz holds fire hoses that were destroyed in the extinguishing work in the Trømborg mountains in Indre Østfold. Photo: Stein Ove Korneliussen / news The Civil Defense and helicopter were called out to assist with extinguishing. And among the burnt heather and grass, the fire brigade found a disposable grill which they believe could be the cause of the fire. A rough calculation made by the fire chief in Indre Østfold for news shows that this fire alone has cost NOK 7 million to put out. On top of this comes lost working days for companies and society for those who helped put out the fire. – These are people who we have to take from their permanent main employer, who have to stand and work on this. The same applies to the civil defence. And then you have lost profit on the forest for the landowner. Cost estimate forest fire in Indre Østfold Indre Østfold fire and rescue (IØBR)’s expenses: NOK 4,000,000 Civil defense costs: NOK 2,500,000 (calculated as the same hourly rate as for employees in IØBR) Use of helicopter: NOK 500,000 Total: NOK 7,000,000 High forest fire danger in Eastern Norway The danger warning for forest fire in Eastern Norway has been raised to the highest level. It is very dry and no rain has been announced in the long-term forecast. So far this year, the fire service has responded to more than 560 fires in forests and fields. This is shown by figures from brannstatistikk.no. Over 200 of these fires have been in Eastern Norway. In 12 days there have been 18 forest fires and 28 grass fires in Østfold, Follo and Romerike alone. The video shows the fire in the Trømborg Mountains. Due to the risk of forest fires, three additional forest fire helicopters have been put on standby. There are fire helicopters at Kjeller in Lillestrøm, Kjevik in Kristiansand, Torp in Vestfold and Stavanger in Rogaland. But forest fires by no means only cost in kroner and øre. Can be dramatic for life in the forest Such fires can cost animals, insects and plants their lives and habitats. Senior adviser Inga Bruteig at the Norwegian Institute for Natural Research (NINA) says that it can be very dramatic. Senior adviser in the Norwegian Institute for Natural Research, NINA, Inga Bruteig Photo: Inga E. Bruteig – There may be valuable plant species, animals and birds that lose their habitats. Especially if it is a question of threatened habitats and endangered species, then it can be a greater or lesser tragedy. While for some species, on the contrary, it can be very good that it burns. – There are quite a few species that are completely dependent on fire in order to reproduce and to establish themselves in an area. The sooty beetle depends on regular fires in forests and fields to survive. Photo: NINA / Arnstein Staverløkk This crab is called Brannmarkløper and also depends on fires in nature to live. Photo: NINA / Arnstein Staverløkk Pays out millions every year Forest fires also mean that valuable forests can be lost. It affects both animals and humans. Managing director Per Asbjørn Flugstad in Skogbrand insurance says there is little in the weather forecast to indicate that the risk of forest fires will decrease beyond June. Fire crews, the Civil Defense and a helicopter spent over four days extinguishing the fire in Indre Østfold. Photo: INDRE ØSTFOLD FIRE AND RESCUE – If the temperature exceeds 25 degrees, there is a much greater risk of forest fire than if the temperature is between 18 and 25. His insurance company is the only one in the country that insures forests against forest fire. Every year they pay out millions to forest owners around the country because of fires. They see that the number of forest fires is increasing.
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Forest fires cost society dearly – news Oslo and Viken – Local news, TV and radio
