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Public warned as forest fire alert issued for western Norway

The Norwegian Meteorological Institute has upgraded the danger warning for forest fires to orange , Norway's highest level issued for fire danger. This warning is expected to remain in place until significant rainfall occurs, which may not come for days. Further inland, the danger remains at yellow level – still concerning, but less acute. "Vegetation can catch fire very easily: Do not use open flames, heed the warning that applies until Sunday," the Meteorological Institute warned. READ MORE: Norway's rules for fires and BBQs An ongoing risk The danger level was officially raised last week, with the probability of forest fires rated as likely (meaning, over 50 percent). The orange level indicates that there is a high probability of forest fires starting and a significant risk that they may grow to sizes that are difficult to manage. Large areas could be affected quickly, especially with rising temperatures, low humidity, and no rain in sight. Rapid ignition The Norwegian Meteorological Institute is clear about the potential consequences: "Vegetation can ignite very easily: Very large areas can be affected." In such dry conditions, a single spark – from a cigarette, campfire, or piece of machinery – can lead to a wildfire that spreads rapidly before firefighters can respond. Advertisement Advice to the public In response to the heightened risk, authorities are asking the public to avoid all forms of open flames and to closely follow instructions from local fire and civil protection services. Even outside of an orange warning, Norway enforces a general campfire ban from April 15th to September 15th. Open fires in or near forests, including barbecues and bonfires, are prohibited during this period unless a municipality explicitly states otherwise. EXPLAINED: What Norway's weather alerts actually mean The Norwegian warning system Forest fire warnings in Norway use a colour-coded system, primarily yellow and orange for fire danger. Red is reserved for extreme weather events with the potential for catastrophic damage and loss of life. Warnings are based on the Forest Fire Danger Index, calculated using temperature, humidity, precipitation, and wind data. Advertisement This system, which has been in use since 2021, has been adapted from the Canadian Fire Weather Index and tailored to Norwegian climate conditions . The forest fire index operates on a "traffic light" model used internationally, ranging from green (safe) to red (extreme danger).