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It's Norway's Biggest-Ever Residential Fire

More than 100 homes destroyed in Drammen, near Oslo
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Jul 19, 2026 8:53 AM CDT

The largest residential fire in modern Norwegian history destroyed more than 100 homes and forced hundreds of people to evacuate, authorities said Saturday. The fire in southern Norway started in a townhouse in the city of Drammen around 3:30pm Friday, police said. It then spread through the area and into nearby forests, per the AP.

The Norwegian Directorate for Civil Protection said Saturday that it was the largest fire of its kind in modern times. NRK, Norway's public broadcaster, said hundreds of people went to an evacuation center. No residents have been reported missing, police said. It was not immediately clear what caused the fire. Drammen is roughly 21 miles southwest of Oslo.

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