Most extensive fire since World War II
The fire in Flatanger on the West Coast of Norway is the most extensive fire catastrophe in Norway since World War II. More than 139 houses and buildings have been destroyed.
The fire in Flatanger in the county of Nord Trøndelag started late Monday night, and only ten days after 40 houses burned to the ground in Lærdalsøyri, also on the West coast.
Like in Lærdal, the fire in Flatanger also spread quickly because of the strong winds, and it was very difficult for emergency crews to extinguish the flames.
The newspaper Adressa.no has gone through records and compared the fire in Flatanger to other major fires since World War II. Tromsø was affected by a fire on May 14 1969, the biggest fire in the city's history, which destroyed 24 buildings, piers and assets worth between NOK 50-100 million.
In 2002 there was a fire in Trondheim that burnt down an entire building square. The houses were mainly from 1841 and 1843, and the fire resulted in damages for more than NOK 240 million.
However, the fire in Flatanger still tops the list of most extensive fires since World War II, and it isn't over yet. Fire crews are still fighting against the strong winds to get the fire under control and prevent it from spreading to surrounding buildings.
(Aftenposten)
