Local residents set about extinguishing the flames when the flames began to spread up the mountainside at Einangen in Bunesfjorden on Saturday evening.
The fire service was notified of what was about to happen in the roadless village of Moskenes, and the residents did what they could to prevent the fire from spreading further.
Fires are generally prohibited and the terrain in our area is very dry, according to the 110 central.
Got a boat
The main rescue center was alerted and was prepared to requisition a boat that could transport the 8-9 firefighters who were ready into the Reinefjord. However, the local firefighters acted quickly and got a boat themselves.
-Snartenkt!, notes duty officer Tom-Roger Olsen at the 110 switchboard in Bodø to Lofotposten.
When they came ashore, probably at Vindstad, they were allowed to use all-terrain vehicles belonging to residents, and thus they got to the area more easily.
Praises local efforts
When the fire crews arrived at the fire, they could ascertain that the people at Vindstad had done a good job.
– They had almost got the fire under control. They have made a solid effort, states the warden.
What equipment and aids do firefighters have with them in such a situation without a fire truck with a tank and extinguishing equipment?
– Then you can bring portable pumps and whips with which they knock down the flames, says duty officer Tom-Roger Olsen at the 110 central in Bodø to Lofotposten, who adds that it is hard work to move in the terrain and whip down the flames.
– Especially when it is on a mountainside, he adds.
Olsen did not have an overview of exactly how large the burnt area is just before 9pm on Saturday evening, but he can say that the message just before 8pm was that the field was 50 meters wide.
Bonfire hypothesis
A police patrol moved out from Svolvær when the fire was reported, but it turned around en route. The operations center says this about the cause of the fire:
– The hypothesis is that it is a fire used for cooking that has gotten out of control. We have been in contact with a hiker regarding this, but the communication was a bit difficult, says operations manager Ulf Sletten to Lofotposten.
