– More than half of the smoke detectors we have checked have not worked, says Karianne Mæhlum of the Vestfold Intermunicipal Fire Service. So far this year, they have checked over 400 cabins in the municipalities of Holmestrand, Horten, Tønsberg and Færder. – It is frightening. – We have found cabins that do not have smoke detectors at all, sighs Mæhlum. The smoke detector alone halves the risk of dying in a fire, according to a press release from the Vestfold Intermunicipal Fire Service. MANY FORGET TO TEST: Smoke alarms should be tested every time someone comes to the cabin, the fire service believes. Photo: Caroline Utti More sloppiness in the cabin than at home The Vestfold Intermunicipal Fire Service notices a big difference in how aware people are of fire safety in ordinary dwellings, and in the cabin. When they are around and check, they find, among other things, the powder apparatus from the nineties and very old smoke detectors that don’t work. – It is sensational, says Karianne Mæhlum. – What do you fear the consequences of this could be? – I fear that people will die in a fire. Preferably when we go to the cabin, we may be a large family, or meet many friends. So in the worst case, many people could die in a cabin fire, she says. VERY WORRIED: Karianne Mæhlum in the Vestfold Intermunicipal Fire Service fears that someone will die in a cabin fire due to poor fire protection. Photo: Theodor Aasland Valen / news The equipment must be kept close Feiarsvein Kristian Jul Pedersen is constantly finding faults with the fire extinguishers that people have placed outside their cabins. – The powder apparatus lasts for ten years, explains Jul Pedersen. Powder apparatus must be serviced or replaced every ten years. In addition, the device must be turned over at least once a year. May apply to the whole country The inspection of 426 cabins in Vestfold showed that half of the cabins lacked working smoke detectors. There are almost 450,000 summer houses and cabins in Norway, according to Statistics Norway. If the figures from Vestfold are representative, around 225,000 cabins may lack working smoke detectors. NOT JUST IN VESTFOLD: Johan Marius Ly, department director for fire and rescue, Directorate for Community Safety and Emergency Preparedness (DSB) believes that the grim numbers may apply to the whole country, not just in Vestfold. Photo: Dina Storvik / news There is no reason to believe that these numbers are any better in the rest of the country than in Vestfold. – I find it disturbing. It’s just as important to think about fire safety when you’re on holiday as when you’re at home, says Johan Marius Ly, who is department director for fire and rescue in the Directorate for Community Safety and Preparedness (DSB). The inspection also showed that 6 out of 10 cabins do not have fire extinguishers according to regulations on fire prevention. Dangerous holiday mode Since 2016, there have been 1,110 fires or outbreaks of fire in Norwegian holiday homes. So far this year, there have been 90 fires or fires. – I don’t think people think about the fact that when you get to the cabin you should test the smoke detector. I think that people want to have it in order, but that they forget it a little when they are on holiday, says Karianne Mæhlum. THOROUGH INSPECTION: Fireman Kristian Jul Pedersen checks the fireplace, chimney, smoke detectors and extinguishing equipment when he is on inspection. Photo: Theodor Aasland Valen / news Feiarsvein Kristian Jul Pedersen did a thorough inspection of the two-year-old cabin of Odd Arve Riise on Tjøme this week. Everything turned out to be in order there. – We are very clear about that. It’s good to know that if something were to happen, beep it and we can get out, concludes Riise. SHOULD BE TURNED QUARTERLY: Feiarsvein Kristian Jul Pedersen explains to cabin owner Odd Arve Riise that the powder apparatus must be turned every year and serviced or replaced every ten years. Photo: Theo Aasland Valen
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Half of the cabins lacked smoke detectors – news Vestfold and Telemark – Local news, TV and radio
