Norway's emergency services coordinated responses to a toaster fire, an ice rescue, a swan disease outbreak, and a water main break in a single day, demonstrating the broad scope of crises managed by the national 110 emergency center.
The initial alert came as a report of a room fire in Solheimsgaten. The entire main station and Sandviken station were dispatched immediately. 'It turns out it was probably a toaster that created smoke,' said Jostein Steinsland-Hauge, the dispatch leader at the 110 center. Firefighters quickly controlled the situation, working to ventilate smoke from the room. Officials confirmed the apartment resident had gotten out safely.
Ice Rescue Highlights Citizen Bravery
Almost simultaneously, around one o'clock, police received a report that an adult man had fallen through the ice on Småvatnet near Håkonshella. Other people at the scene managed to pull the man to land before emergency services arrived. 'It was fantastic that they got him up,' said Shahrooz Lahoti, another 110 center dispatch leader. Police reported the man was rescued by a person who crawled out using ice spikes. 'Great effort by this person,' praised police operations manager Tore-Andre Brakstad. The man was treated by ambulance and driven home afterward, appearing unharmed.
Avian Influenza Concerns Rise
Separately, Bergen municipality has received several reports of sick swans at Tveitevannet on Landås since Wednesday. On Sunday, two new dead swans were found. Several birds have been sent to the Norwegian Food Safety Authority for testing, with suspicion they are infected with bird flu. 'We expect to get the test results back during the week,' said Kristin Klokkeide, head of the nature and environmental management section in the city environment agency. Sick and dead swans have also been found in Damsgårdsundet and Ortunvannet. Authorities are monitoring incoming reports, with wildlife guards dispatched to euthanize birds if they are sick.
Water Main Break Affects Hundreds
In a fourth incident, a private water pipeline break has affected people in the Nipedalen area. For the time being, the municipality advises people to boil their drinking water. They have sent warnings to 905 people. The break has left 111 households without water. Communications advisor Trude Haugen with Bergen Vann said it is uncertain if the municipality will assist with the break since it is on a private line. 'It is thawing ground that causes the ground to move and thus leads to a break in the water pipeline. This is completely normal at this time of year,' Haugen said. She emphasized that people must store water at home for their own preparedness.