New cameras have just been installed on farm owner Dag Wirak’s old wooden house in the center of Grimstad town centre. A town that consists of narrow streets and wooden houses from the 18th and 19th centuries that are close together. Grimstad is now taking unconventional measures to secure itself against fire. For the house owners in the southern village do not have to pay property tax, if they fireproof their properties with an alarm notification directly to the fire service. – For my part, it has been a simple choice, in relation to the security that is being established. If a fire starts here, 110 is quickly out, says Wirak. Dag Wirak owns three old wooden houses in the center of Grimstad. For him, it was an easy choice to set up cameras for better fire safety. Photo: Geir Ingar Egeland / news Will prevent urban fires Deputy fire chief in Grimstad fire and rescue Eirik Evensen believes this is important to put in place, to avoid devastating urban fires. – It is undoubtedly an important measure to get as much warning as possible in place, so we can get there when the fire is small. Then we have a greater opportunity to do something about it. In February, there was a town fire in the center of Kragerø, where three buildings were completely damaged. Two of them were listed houses from the 19th century that were lost and had to be demolished. The Kragerø fire made the politicians in Grimstad think again, and now want to prevent such a fire with their new measures. Deputy fire chief in Grimstad says the municipality has taken an important measure for fire safety in the city. Photo: Geir Ingar Egeland / news More people want to do the same By removing the property tax in Grimstad, they hope that more people will secure their wooden houses. – We know that installing extra fire protection measures will cost the farm owners something. Then it was nice to look at opportunities to reduce other costs, says Grimstad’s mayor, Beate Skretting (H). Risør and several other municipalities are now considering doing the same. The fire in Kragerø in February started in the middle of the listed buildings in the center of the town. Photo: Theo Aasland Valen / news
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Municipality takes unconventional measures for fire safety – news Sørlandet – Local news, TV and radio
