The Norwegian mountain community of Lærdal, known for its historic wooden buildings, was hit by another fire during the weekend. Firefighters managed to contain it and save several adjacent buildings, but two were severely damaged.
The 250-year-old Hanseatic-style homes and commercial buildings all stand close together, as was the custom in what used to be a thriving inland port on an arm of the Sognefjord. The fire is believed to have started early Saturday morning in a building containing a shop on Øyragata, and then spread to an adjacent home with several residents. All escaped and the entire neighbourhood was evacuated to a nearby hotel.
The fire was finally extinguished after around five hours but work continued throughout the afternoon. The fire, which follows a major blaze in 2014, also prompted a comment from Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre: “Lærdal has experienced fires before,” he told news bureau NTB, “and they always make an impression nationally.”
NewsinEnglish.no staff
