{"success":true,"data":{"id":"fc8e855f-147d-4c29-a1c4-4333b58e8331","title":"‘Not under control’: Firefighters battle largest blaze in Norway’s history as 100 homes destroyed","summary":"US Edition Change Support Now × \"Clear search box\") Custom Search Sort by Relevance Date NewsNews World CupWorld Cup SportsSports CultureCulture LifestyleLifestyle MoneyMoney TravelTravel PremiumPremium More More Thank you for registering Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the si...","content":"US Edition Change\n\nSupport Now\n\n[×](javascript:void(0) \"Clear search box\")\n\nCustom Search\n\nSort by\n\nRelevance\n\nDate\n\n*   News[News](https://www.independent.co.uk/us)\n\n*   World Cup[World Cup](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup)\n\n*   Sports[Sports](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport)\n\n*   Culture[Culture](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment)\n\n*   Lifestyle[Lifestyle](https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style)\n\n*   Money[Money](https://www.independent.co.uk/us/money)\n\n*   Travel[Travel](https://www.independent.co.uk/us/travel)\n\n*   Premium[Premium](https://www.independent.co.uk/independentpremium)\n\nMore\n\nMore\n\n### Thank you for registering\n\nPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in Please refresh your browser to be logged in\n\n# ‘Not under control’: Firefighters battle largest blaze in Norway’s history as 100 homes destroyed\n\n## As many as 100 homes in Drammen, southern Norway, have been destroyed by the blaze\n\n[Lizzie Edmonds](https://www.independent.co.uk/author/lizzie-edmonds)Saturday 18 July 2026 14:18 BST\n\n*   Copy link  \n*   Bookmark  \n*   [Comments](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/norway-fire-drammen-homes-destroyed-b3017382.html#comments-area)Go to comments  \n\n## Bookmark popover\n\nRemoved from bookmarks\n\nClose popover\n\nopen image in gallery\n\nSmoke rises over terraced houses on fire in the Krokstadelva village in Drammen, Norway(Thomas Fure / NTB)\n\n### Your support helps us to tell the story\n\nFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.\n\nAt such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.\n\nThe Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.\n\n**Your support makes all the difference.**\n\nThe largest residential fire in modern Norwegian history has destroyed more than 100 homes and forced hundreds of people to evacuate, authorities said Saturday.\n\nThe fire in southern [Norway](https://apnews.com/hub/norway) started in a [townhouse in the city of Drammen around 3:30 p.m. Friday](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/norway-oslo-nrk-b3017338.html \"Massive fire destroys 100 homes in Norway and forces hundreds to evacuate\"), police said.\n\nIt then spread through the area and into nearby forests. Thick black smoke covered the area, located some 50 km (30 miles) west of Oslo.\n\nFirefighters on Saturday morning continued their efforts to bring the blaze under control.\n\nMore than 80 firefighters worked to put out the fire, while helicopters were deployed to douse the flames with water.\n\n[](https://zekear.com/products/2-mic-portable-karaoke-machine-%E2%80%93-colorful-lights-fun-voice-effects-instant-family-entertainment)[A Portable Karaoke Gift Families Can Share Zekear | [Sponsored](https://popup.taboola.com/en/?template=colorbox&utm_source=eslmedia-theindependent&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=alternating-thumbnails-stream-1x4:Mid%20Article%20Thumbnails%20II:)[Sponsored](https://popup.taboola.com/en/?template=colorbox&utm_source=eslmedia-theindependent&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=alternating-thumbnails-stream-1x4:Mid%20Article%20Thumbnails%20II:)](https://zekear.com/products/2-mic-portable-karaoke-machine-%E2%80%93-colorful-lights-fun-voice-effects-instant-family-entertainment \"A Portable Karaoke Gift Families Can Share\")\n\n[](https://fyntravix.com/blogs/news/solar-garden-lanterns-%E2%80%93-no-wiring-auto-on-at-dusk!-last-chance-before-they%27re-gone!)[Warm backyard lighting with no wiring required Fyntravix | [Sponsored](https://popup.taboola.com/en/?template=colorbox&utm_source=eslmedia-theindependent&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=alternating-thumbnails-stream-1x4:Mid%20Article%20Thumbnails%20II:)[Sponsored](https://popup.taboola.com/en/?template=colorbox&utm_source=eslmedia-theindependent&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=alternating-thumbnails-stream-1x4:Mid%20Article%20Thumbnails%20II:)](https://fyntravix.com/blogs/news/solar-garden-lanterns-%E2%80%93-no-wiring-auto-on-at-dusk!-last-chance-before-they%27re-gone! \"Warm backyard lighting with no wiring required\")\n\nSmoke rises over terraced houses on fire in the Krokstadelva village in Drammen(Thomas Fure / NTB)\n\nFinn Roine, a resident of Drammen, told Sky News: \"I got a call from my daughter saying that three apartment blocks below her were on fire. A few minutes later, my son and I drove up here to see what was happening.\n\n\"When we got here it looked brighter because the fire was lower down, but it spread incredibly fast. Then we saw the flames take one row of houses after another. Then I saw my daughter's house. It has burned down now, and it's still burning. There are still flames there.\"\n\nThe Norwegian Directorate for Civil Protection said Saturday that it was the largest fire of its kind in modern times.\n\nNRK, Norway's public broadcaster, said hundreds of people went to an evacuation center.\n\nNo residents have been reported missing, police said.\n\nPolice incident commander Frode Presthus said: \"The fire is spreading into the forest, so it has become a larger wildfire moving south. The plan is for the fire service, together with the Civil Defence, to meet the wildfire from the south and extinguish it northwards towards the fire. That's what they're going to try now. But as I said, the fire is still not under control. It is still moving.\"","source_name":"The Independent","source_url":"https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/norway-fire-drammen-homes-destroyed-b3017382.html","url":"https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/norway-fire-drammen-homes-destroyed-b3017382.html","author":"Lizzie Edmonds","author_name":"Lizzie Edmonds","published_at":"2026-07-18T13:18:11.000Z","publication_date":"2026-07-18T13:18:11.000Z","image_url":"https://static.independent.co.uk/2026/07/18/10/Norway_Fire_54711.jpg","category":"world","topic":"world","tags":[],"political_bias":null,"bias_score":null,"confidence_score":null,"credibility_score":null,"factual_quality":null,"reading_time":4,"word_count":666,"view_count":0,"breaking":false,"breaking_news":false,"ai_analysis":null,"fact_check_status":"unverified","archive_status":"hot"}}