Over 300 People Evacuated in Norwegian City Due to Forest Fire
On the outskirts of the Norwegian city of Ålesund, firefighting units have been battling a blaze for a second day on Mount Sukkertoppen, NRK reports.
The fire, which broke out near residential areas, prompted authorities to take urgent safety measures and evacuate the population. The large-scale fire began on the afternoon of 17 March in a forested area on one of the islands where the city is located.
Due to the immediate threat to private homes, approximately 350 residents of the area were forced to leave their homes.
Evacuated citizens were offered temporary shelter in hotels in the city center while a nighttime operation worked to extinguish the flames.
By the morning of 18 March, the situation had been stabilized, although isolated pockets of open fire still remain. Experts note that the critical phase of confronting the blaze has passed, and no additional evacuations are currently needed. Favorable weather conditions, including increased humidity and lighter winds, significantly eased the work of rescue services.
“Fortunately, the weather is on our side — it’s now humid, and the wind has noticeably calmed compared to yesterday,” said fire service representatives. However, safety measures in the region remain heightened until the fire is fully extinguished.
City authorities decided to temporarily suspend the operation of educational institutions in the affected area for safety reasons. Schools and kindergartens will not operate on 18 March, and alternative activities for students have been organized at the city museum.
It should be recalled that a fire and explosion recently occurred in Lviv, leaving residents without gas supply.
