Wind-Whipped Blaze Guts Neighborhood

Firefighters battling a large blaze with a hose — Photo: Arisha Ray Singh / Shutterstock

A fast-moving fire near Drammen in southern Norway destroyed more than 100 homes and forced hundreds of people to flee.

Quick Take

Police and the public broadcaster said the blaze spread through a residential area in Drammen.
More than 100 homes were reported destroyed, with hundreds evacuated from the area.
Fire crews used helicopters and more than 60 firefighters to slow the flames.
Authorities said the fire continued to burn, but it was brought under control by Saturday morning.

Fire Sweeps Through Drammen Neighborhood

The fire started in a townhouse in the Krokstadelva area of Drammen around 3:30 p.m. Friday, according to reporting that cited police. Thick smoke covered the area about 50 kilometers west of Oslo, and the flames spread through terraced housing and into nearby forest land. Rescue officials said hundreds of residents were evacuated as crews raced to stop the fire from taking more homes.

Authorities said no residents were reported missing, and early reports said there were no casualties. Later reporting said the blaze was still burning on Saturday morning, even after it had been brought under control. The scene showed how quickly fire can move through dense housing and nearby forest when strong winds help push the flames forward.

Emergency Crews Faced Strong Winds and Heavy Smoke

Firefighters battled the blaze with support from helicopters, which dropped water on the burning area. More than 60 firefighters worked at the scene, and police kept people out of the danger zone while the fire spread. One report said the fire reached a nearby forest after moving through the neighborhood, which made the response harder and raised the risk of further damage.

The scale of the damage has also drawn attention because Norway has seen rising wildfire risk in recent years, especially in the south. Research on Norwegian vegetation fires shows that spring fires and direct flame contact are common causes of building damage, and other studies say southern Norway faces more wildfire activity than northern regions. That pattern fits the kind of fast residential fire seen in Drammen.

What This Fire Says About Norway’s Risk

Norway is not usually seen as a wildfire hotspot, but recent research shows the country still deals with more than 1,200 wildfires a year on average. Studies also point to warmer, drier periods and more homes built near forest and heathland as reasons the risk has grown. When those conditions line up, a small fire can turn into a neighborhood disaster in a matter of hours.

🔥🇳🇴 Massive fire devastates Drammen, Norway. Over 100 homes have been destroyed, hundreds evacuated, and firefighters continue battling the blaze amid severe weather.

Video courtesy – @Nordic_News #Norway #Drammen #Fire #BreakingNews #Wildfire pic.twitter.com/c6GVh6YZeD

— VIORA NEWS (@VIORANEWS) July 18, 2026

This event also shows why early damage counts can change fast in a large fire. Initial reports sometimes lag behind the full picture when crews are still fighting flames and checking every block. In Drammen, the best-supported reporting now points to more than 100 homes destroyed, hundreds evacuated, and no confirmed missing residents.