– There were lots of flames rising from the roof and towards my window. Kristine Aarhus did not smell the smoke until she was in bed. She had turned on the panel oven to keep the heat on and thought the smell must be coming from it. – It is somewhat the same smell I have noticed when I have used the oven in the past, she says. Only when she heard unfamiliar noises and bangs did she understand that something was wrong. From the bedroom, she saw the flames through the window. They approached her. – My entire balcony was on fire. The railing begins to collapse and the windows crack. The balcony is completely damaged after the fire. Photo: Stein Ove Korneliussen / news Her apartment in Mysen in Indre Østfold is directly above the garage where the fire started on Monday evening. – I really panicked. I barely remembered to put on clothes. I was just trying to get out as quickly as possible. Peak season for house fires So far this year, there have been over 1,500 house fires in Norway. The number will be higher before the New Year. Fire inspector in the Mosse region, Bjørn Refling, says that December is the month in which the most residential fires traditionally occur. – Many people are perhaps a little stressed during the festive season, says Refling. Fire inspector in the Mosse region Bjørn Refling encourages everyone to take extra care of each other this Christmas. Photo: Privat Candlelight and the smell of food in the oven are for many an important part of the Christmas atmosphere. But there are several fire traps hiding in the Christmas coziness. – Many people bring out a lot of electrical equipment. We are at home more and use more electricity, says Refling. Some also consume more alcohol and put extra fire in the fireplace. The fire inspector encourages people to take extra care of each other this Christmas and to talk about fire safety. – It is a good idea to agree where to meet if the fire alarm goes off, so that you are not left standing at opposite ends. Urges caution So far in 2022, 37 people have died in fires. This is a slight decrease from last year, according to figures from the Directorate for Social Security and Emergency Preparedness (DSB). Department director Johan Marius Ly at DSB says that an increased focus on smoke detectors may be part of the reason why the death statistics have decreased in the last two decades. – It is important that everyone checks that the smoke detectors are working and that the battery is in order. A working smoke detector is the most important sensor for early warning of a house fire. – It is particularly important that those who have family or friends, who may not be able to do it themselves, help check the smoke detector, says Ly. He encourages people to pay extra attention if you have decorations near candles. Many people are also finding the heaters now that the temperatures are dropping, but they should not be plugged in anywhere. – It is important not to use extension cords for heaters. They must be connected directly to plugs. Offer of help The police believe the fire in Mysen was caused by an electric bicycle that caught fire while charging. Emergency manager for fire and rescue in Indre Østfold Owe Gulbrandsen says that such fires are almost impossible for people to put out on their own. He says the best thing is to try to get the burning object away. – Try to get it out as quickly as possible, says Gulbrandsen. Several have offered to help Kristine Aarhus after the fire. Photo: Stein Ove Korneliussen / news No one was injured after the fire, but for many of the residents in the apartment complex, the pre-Christmas period will not be as they had imagined. Worst of all, things went beyond Kristine Aarhus’ apartment. Several of her friends have already extended a helping hand. – I have received many inquiries from friends asking them to help with clothes, accommodation and car and everything else that is needed, she says.
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The fire service asks people to be extra careful in December – news Oslo og Viken – Local news, TV and radio
