Helicopters dump water as huge Norway fire destroys homes

What the report says

BBC World News reported that a large fire in Drammen, southern Norway, has destroyed more than 100 homes and forced hundreds of residents to leave the area. Drammen is located roughly 30 miles west of Oslo. Rescue officials said there were no reported deaths, injuries or missing people at the time of the report.

Authorities said the blaze had extended into nearby forest, prompting a major firefighting response. Video published by the BBC showed helicopters dropping water on the fire, while dozens of firefighters worked on the ground. Local police said the situation remained active and that the fire was not yet under control.

The cause of the fire had not been established. Thomas Evjen, a Drammen Red Cross worker cited by Reuters in the BBC report, linked the rapid spread to recent hot and dry conditions in the area, saying the dryness helped the flames move quickly once the fire began.

The incident matters because it combines an urban housing loss with a forest fire risk, raising the scale of the emergency and the challenge for responders. The BBC report was published on 18 July under its Europe coverage. Further official updates would be needed to confirm the fire’s origin, the full extent of property damage and when evacuees may be able to return.