Fire in the terrain in Refvik in Kinn: Helicopter on the way

Major ground fire in Refvik in Kinn.

– The fire service is in action on the ground. The situation is not under control, the 110 center reports.

Both roads towards Refvika are closed, the Swedish Traffic Agency reports. The fire site is above Refvikvatnet, which lies a little inland from the well-known beach and village.

– The fire service is on site and working, and we have sent a request to get a forest fire helicopter to the site. The nearest helicopter is in Sauda now, says Trond Landaas at the 110 central.

The expected arrival of the helicopter is 21.00, the police inform NTB.

Stock fire gate

The fire service does not have an overview of the size of the fire area, but it is described as a fairly large terrain fire.

At 21:00 Landaas says that the crews have moved a little in the direction of the Refvik settlement itself to create a fire escape and soak the terrain there.

– It’s still burning. When the helicopter takes off, we reckon it will help a lot, he says.

Around 20 people from the fire service are involved in the extinguishing.

No one evacuated so far

There should be around 500 meters for buildings. The 110 center is not aware that anyone has been evacuated.

– The fire is moving upwards in the terrain, so it is on its way away from the houses along the road. But on the other side of the mountain is Raudeberg and a larger housing estate, says photographer Thomas Hagen, who is on the scene.

He says at 7.45pm that the fire has reached a section of forest, and is therefore in the process of spreading.

Person exposed to smoke

Operations manager Bjarte Rebnord in the West police district states that the police have closed Nordvågvegen. There is a detour via Halsaneset.

– The ambulance at the scene has treated a person who has been exposed to smoke. There is currently no assessed need for evacuation of houses in the area, says Rebnord.

The fire must have spread over Ramnereiret. The fire crews work in demanding and steep terrain.

Police and an ambulance are also on the scene.

– Was alerted by walkie-talkie sounds

Vivian Dorte Myre Gjesdal lives in one of the houses along the road where there is a fire in the terrain just behind.

But she didn’t know about the fire until the fire brigade was on the scene, she says.

– I had the window open and thought I heard some walkie-talkie sounds. When I looked out, there was a full emergency call, she says.

She is currently not anxious about the house.

– Right now the wind direction is favorable for us, and now the helicopter is on its way, so we can hope that this goes well. In addition, the water is close by, from which they can pump up for the extinguishing.