The DSB announced the deployment of an extra helicopter to improve fire preparedness in the coming days. This move comes amid a yellow danger warning for forest fires in Møre and Romsdal over the weekend, according to major media reports. The deployment is specifically due to the high danger of grass and heather fires in Nordland, the DSB said.
Recent incidents highlight the critical role of aerial resources in fire containment. According to NRK Norge, Roger Vangen, the emergency leader in Tingvoll, described the helicopter as crucial in controlling a fire there on Wednesday. He added that without the helicopter fetching water from the sea, the fire would have spread up the forest and become much larger.
The helicopter was absolutely crucial.
Vangen also noted that little wind was a great help on Wednesday, and major media reports indicate that good and early efforts on the ground and from the air prevented greater damage. Multiple fires have recently occurred in the Møre and Romsdal region, with at least five reported on Wednesday alone, according to Sindre Egeness, the fire chief in Ålesund. The exact number of fires beyond those five remains unclear.
According to NRK Norge, Egeness described a forest fire helicopter as having a large effect, especially if deployed early in firefighting efforts, particularly when there is little wind. Fire department capacity appears robust despite the recent activity. According to NRK Norge, Sindre Egeness described the fire department as well-staffed with access to more people on short notice, so they are not worried about capacity.
In the beginning, we got water from a small stream, and it was too little. Without the helicopter fetching water from the sea, the fire would have spread up the forest. So the fire would have become much larger.
After the Tingvoll fire on Wednesday afternoon, groups of eight patrolled all night to monitor and prevent re-ignition, according to major media reports. According to NRK Norge, Svein Kringstad, a Civil Defense representative, described patrols as only digging over some tufts to keep the fire down. The current status of the Tingvoll fire after these patrols is not confirmed, and no injuries or property damage from the recent fires have been reported.
Specific deployment details for the extra helicopter have been outlined by the DSB. The extra forest fire helicopter will be deployed from April 14 to 16, with two forest fire helicopters operating in the Salten area on those days. The Meteorological Institute has issued warnings about increasing fire risks.
He adds that little wind was also of great help on Wednesday.
In the coming period, there may be increasing fire danger in lowland areas due to drying of last year's vegetation, the institute reported. Currently, there is snow in many places in the lowlands of Northern Norway, so it takes time for the ground to be snow-free, according to the Meteorological Institute. The specific measures being taken to address this increasing fire danger in lowland areas are not detailed, and the exact areas under the yellow danger warning in Møre and Romsdal have not been specified.
A forest fire helicopter has a large effect, not least if it is deployed early in the firefighting efforts. Especially when there is little wind, as it has been the last few days.
We are well-staffed and have access to more people on short notice, so we are not worried about capacity.
Patrols have only dug over some tufts to keep the fire down.