The summer heat and lack of rainfall make the danger of forest fires increase in several places in the country. Now the government is strengthening forest fire helicopter preparedness.
Twelve helicopters are in preparation in July to quickly assist local fire brigade as needed.
“The forest fires are now so high in significant parts of the country that the fire department’s preparedness of forest fire helicopters needs to be further increased in order to handle and extinguish new forest fires,” states the state secretary Thor Kleppen Sættem (H) in the Ministry of Justice and Emergency Affairs.
The state covers the cost of the helicopters so that local fire and rescue services receive the necessary aid for extinguishing forest fires, adds the State Secretary.
So far this year there have been 296 forest fires, almost as many as last year. The state forest fire helicopters are in preparation for the period from 15 April to 15 August.
© NTB scanpix / #Norway Today
