The fire burned down too soon – now the boys are back on track

For the residents of Ålesund, it wouldn’t be a proper Midsummer without the Slinningsbålet. Behind the giant tower with stands, stands a group of volunteer boys aged between 10 and 20. This year they had an extra challenge, when the fire accidentally went up in smoke after ten days of hard work. – It has gone surprisingly well. It only shows the commitment of everyone who is here, says bonfire manager Viktor Sunde. Viktor Sunde is one of the bonfire leaders for this year’s Slinningsbål. Photo: Mia Sofie Ytreberg / news Early fire 44 days before planned, a fire started on Slinningsodden outside Ålesund. The fire, which was already six meters high, was gone. This is what it looked like the morning after the Slinningsbålet accidentally burned down. Photo: Øyvind Sandnes / news It was hard for the fire chief. – The first thing I thought about was whether everyone was safe. Then came the shock, I almost panicked. The whole body started to shake, says Viktor Sunde. The gang had to start over. With an even shorter time until Midsummer. Mia Sofie Ytreberg / news Slinningsbålet Slinningsbålet Slinningsbålet is built by volunteer youth, and is lit on the Saturday before Sankthans. Øyvind Berge Sæbjørnsen Popular bonfire People come from far and wide to watch the bonfire burn. Every year the fjord is full of boats. Roar Halten World Record In 2016, the Slinningsbålet received international attention when it was approved as the tallest bonfire in the world, at almost 50 metres. Mia Sofie Ytreberg / news Built for hand The world record no longer stands. But the Slinningsbålet is still very special, because it is built by hand, without a crane. – Means so much But the city quickly mobilized. Within a short time, NOK 110,000 and thousands of pallets were collected so that the young people could build what used to be the largest Midsummer bonfire in Norway. – We received well over a thousand pallets in the first two days alone. We really appreciated that. It means so much, all the support we get. Viktor SundeBåljef Now the fire is up to 32 metres, and the gang is well on track for Saturday. This year’s design is also a little different than in the past. – This fire has old fish boxes. We are trying to create a retro bonfire from the 80s, says the bonfire manager. He himself helped design this year’s bonfire, among other things by looking at old pictures of the Slinningsbålet. – Like a leisure club There are children and young people who come together every year to build the bonfire that is lit on the Saturday closest to Midsummer’s Eve. It is everything from 10 to 20-year-olds who help build the fire. – I started when I was 8, but have been here mostly this year, says Bjarte Skar Nilsen, who is now 13 years old. He thinks it’s very nice to hang out with the rest of the boys when they build a fire. – You make many new friends, it’s like a leisure club, he says. This is the last photo that was taken on 8 May, before the fire burned down. 2,000 pallets went up in flames. Photo: Bålgjängen This year they have a generational change among the bonfire builders. Some have given up, and some new ones have arrived. And according to camp manager Viktor Sunde, they have room for many more. – All you have to do is show up, then you will get to help build. Published 21.06.2024, at 09.08



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