Fire in the ferry is under control – residents returning home

Bømlo. Fire in ferry on Rubbestadneset.Photo: Jan Kåre Ness / NTB scanpix

There has been in a fire in car ferry MF Strand on Saturday night which has been under control. There is no danger that fuel and oil may catch fire.

– The drama is mostly over. The fire is under control in the sense that it does not spread further, said operations manager Oddvar Olsen in West police district to news agency NTB.

Those of residents, who lived in the area at Rubbestadneset in Bømlo, who had to evacuate their homes are now returning to their homes.

423 people had to evacuate, while police put evacuation notice to 1,300 residents of the area because the powerful fire caused severe smoke on the premises.

Those who experience respiratory problems must wait to move back home, said county medical specialist to NRK news.

Ferry on fire

There was a fire in MF-Strand and with lots of smoke there on Saturday morning. After around 9 hours the firemen could make the situation completely under control.

Overall, up to 40 firemen from Bremnes, Mosterhamn, Stord, Haugesund and Vormedal were participating on this action in Karmøy.

There should have been people working on the large ferry when it began to burn, but there were no reports of casualties.

MF Strand began to burn when it was planning to start the service by LOS Marine at Rubbestadneset in Bømlo around 9 o’clock Saturday morning.

The ship had diesel or waste oil on board, but due to the quick actions there has been no danger that the highly flammable liquids should ignite.

 

Source: NTB scanpix / Norway Today