Approximately 1,250 farm animals have died in Norwegian agricultural fires so far this year. Official statistics remain incomplete because police have only investigated half of these incidents since 2016.
In September, a barn fire in Sarpsborg killed over 500 pigs. While one swimming pig initially escaped the flames, veterinarians later euthanized all surviving animals due to their injuries.
Norwegian authorities maintain no official count of livestock deaths in agricultural fires. The Directorate for Civil Protection receives reports from fire departments but acknowledges significant data gaps.
"The numbers we have come from fire service reports when they respond to these blazes," said Johan Marius Ly, director of fire and rescue services. "Reporting varies considerably, and we know the statistics have shortcomings."
The Agricultural Fire Protection Committee tracks media reports and has recorded six major livestock fires with animal fatalities this year. Their data shows 1,250 farm animals have perished in 2025.
"That's far too many," said committee chair Trond Bjørkås. "Even one livestock fire is one too many. For farmers, it's a complete catastrophe when barns burn - animals and entire livelihoods go up in flames."
While the number of agricultural fires has steadily declined since 2014, animal deaths remain persistently high. Some individual incidents cause massive casualties - nearly 20,000 poultry died in fires during both 2017 and 2018.
Police have investigated only 40 of 81 livestock fires occurring between 2016 and 2025. For 65% of investigated cases, officers listed the cause as "unknown."
Bjørkås demands clearer priorities from police and political leadership. "We need strong signals that this matters. They must prioritize funding for investigations and determine fire causes. Very often we hear they don't know why fires start, so we cannot prevent recurrences."
The Police Directorate acknowledged reporting deficiencies and said they've implemented reminders to districts about proper documentation. However, they noted that missing cause reports don't necessarily mean cases went uninvestigated.
The Agriculture Ministry defended relying on media-based statistics rather than creating official counts. They emphasized prevention through regulatory changes, including mandatory electrical inspections every three years and requirements for fire alarms and animal evacuation plans.
The situation reveals a troubling pattern: Norway meticulously tracks human fire fatalities but treats livestock deaths as secondary concerns, despite their economic and emotional impact on farming communities.