A brushfire on the island of Skardsøy in Aure on Norway’s northwest coast was raging out of control Thursday afternoon, and forcing the evacuation of some residents and holiday cabin owners in the area.
Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) reported that winds in the area were spreading the fire northward. “It’s quite a big grass- and brush fire,” operations leader Thorry Aakenes of the Nordmore og Romsdal Police District told NRK.
Local firefighters had called for reinforcements and a helicopter from Værnes was on its way to the site to fight the fire from the air and try to keep it from spreading any further. Efforts were being made to set up a command center in the cellar of a local community hall at Vihalsen.
“It’s a bit chaotic now because of the (Ascension Day) holiday and confirmations, but we’re scrambling to set something up,” said local mayor Ingunn Golmen. Emergency crews also faced some communications challenges and were having to coordinate operations via their mobile telephones.
The fire is the second to break out in as many days, as emergency crews further north worked to keep a blaze in Nordland County under control.
newsinenglish.no staff
