Orkanger New Year’s Eve Evacuation: Residents SAFELY Evacuated as Fire Engulfs Electric Vehicle
In a New Year’s Eve scare, residents of an apartment building in Orkanger, Trøndelag, were safely evacuated after fire broke out in an electric vehicle (EV) in the garage. The operation was led by Øystein Volden, operations leader at the Trøndelag Police District.
Around 7 PM on New Year’s Eve, emergency services were called to the scene. The building, which houses 53 registered residents, was thoroughly searched, and all tenants were accounted for and evacuated by 8:51 PM. Although some residents were not home, those present were safely escorted out.
Volden confirmed to NRK at 9:16 PM that the fire department had gained control of the blaze and were in the process of removing the burning EV and a neighboring car. There was concern for the neighboring car due to possible spread of the fire.
Among the evacuated residents was Karin Blåsmo, who praised the emergency services for their swift and efficient response. "Everything went perfectly," she told NRK. Despite being in a wheelchair, Blåsmo was safely guided down the emergency staircase by medical personnel. She expressed admiration for the assistance she received.
The evacuated residents are currently being housed at Bårdshaug herregard. Hanne Nyhus, the mayor of Orkland municipality, confirmed that the municipality has opened a hotel for those in need of accommodations.
Operational leader Volden stated it’s too early to determine if residents can return home later tonight. "We need to wait until the fire is completely extinguished and then inspect the building. It’s difficult to say what kind of damage the apartments may have sustained due to the smoke," he explained.
The incident serves as a reminder of the potential hazards associated with electric vehicles and the importance of fire safety in residential buildings.