Controlled Burns Reported in Øygarden Spark Calls to Fire Department

Authorities in Øygarden, Norway, responded to multiple reports of fires on Sunday, though most turned out to be controlled burns or quickly contained incidents. While initial calls prompted a significant response from emergency services, officials were able to reassure the public that no structures were immediately threatened.

The first incident reported involved a brush fire on Haganes in Øygarden on March 23, 2025, at 12:37 PM. Fire officials responded with substantial resources and quickly gained control of the blaze, a combination of heather and grass. Police were also present, confirming there was no immediate danger to homes or cabins. No injuries were reported, and an ambulance remained on standby. Police initially planned for potential evacuations, but ultimately deemed them unnecessary. By 1:19 PM, the fire department had the situation under control and began the process of extinguishing any remaining embers, remaining on scene to monitor for flare-ups throughout the day. The police concluded their involvement shortly before 3:00 PM, initiating an investigation into the cause of the fire.

Later that day, on May 17, 2025, at 6:29 PM, emergency services received a report of a fully engulfed house fire in Øygarden. Firefighters worked to prevent the fire from spreading to neighboring properties and gained control of the blaze by 7:45 PM. One resident was evacuated from the home, which is described as a wooden structure. No further individuals were believed to be inside.

A separate incident on May 13, 2024, involved a grass and heather fire that ignited during blasting operations in Øygarden. Fire crews worked diligently to contain the flames, achieving control around 9:30 PM. Operasjonsleder Knut Dahl-Michelsen estimated that approximately 40-50 meters of land were scorched, and extinguishing efforts were expected to continue for an extended period.

More recently, on Sunday, fire services received a high volume of calls regarding fires in the Øygarden area. According to a vaktleder Tore Fanebust, the numerous reports prompted a significant response. However, it was determined that many of the calls related to a controlled burn on Misje and Geitarøyna, which had been previously cleared with the fire department.

“The phone hasn’t stopped ringing,” Fanebust told BA. “But it was a controlled burn, cleared with us beforehand. However, we still need to investigate every call that comes in.”

Fanebust indicated that crews were expected to conclude their work as darkness fell. “I think they’ll be finished soon,” he estimated.