Construction Site Fire: Municipality Project Affected
- A meaningful fire broke out at a construction site in Huseby, Oslo, on December 7, 2023, impacting barracks and infrastructure related to the city's NOK 30 billion water...
- According to Duty Commander Glenn Gulbrandsen of the Oslo Fire and Rescue Service (OBRE), the fire had spread to 8 out of 10 barracks at the construction site...
- Firefighters are employing smoke divers from two sides to combat the fire.
Fire Engulfs construction Site for Oslo’s Major Water Infrastructure project
Table of Contents
A meaningful fire broke out at a construction site in Huseby, Oslo, on December 7, 2023, impacting barracks and infrastructure related to the city’s NOK 30 billion water supply project from Holsfjorden. As of 3:40 PM local time, firefighters were still battling the blaze.
Last updated: December 7, 2023, 4:00 PM CET
Current Situation
According to Duty Commander Glenn Gulbrandsen of the Oslo Fire and Rescue Service (OBRE), the fire had spread to 8 out of 10 barracks at the construction site as of 3:20 PM. Gulbrandsen described the smoke progress as “powerful.”
Firefighters are employing smoke divers from two sides to combat the fire. As of 3:40 PM, the fire service reported that extinguishing efforts were ongoing and yielding a “positive response,” but the fire had not yet been declared extinguished. Aftenposten provides ongoing coverage of the incident.
project details and Impact
The fire occurred at a construction area for oslo municipality’s new water supply project originating from Holsfjorden. This project, valued at approximately NOK 30 billion (roughly $2.8 billion USD as of December 7, 2023 according to Norges Bank Investment Management), represents the municipality’s single largest investment. The site houses numerous barrack structures and other infrastructure essential to the construction process.
The extent of the damage to the infrastructure and potential delays to the project timeline are currently unknown. Authorities have not yet released information regarding the cause of the fire.
Public Safety Advice
Oslo Fire and Rescue Service advises people in the area to stay away from the smoke and close windows as a precautionary measure. No further specific advice has been issued at this time.