Krokstadelva Fire

Krokstadelva is a hillside suburb of Drammen along the Drammenselva river. On July 17, 2026, a fire broke out in a row house at the Stenseth housing estate and spread with extraordinary speed through dry vegetation, high winds, and tightly spaced wooden homes. Within hours, 116 residential units were destroyed and more than 400 people evacuated. It was Norway's worst peacetime fire in over a century. More than 100 firefighters from across eastern Norway battled the blaze, supported by six helicopters dropping an estimated 800,000 liters of water. The fire took four days to bring fully under control. Among those who lost their homes was Drammen's own fire chief, Torgeir Andersen, who continued leading the response despite his personal loss. The cause remains under investigation by Kripos, Norway's national criminal investigation service.