Firefighters have partial control over a blaze at Sørreisa primary and secondary school in northern Norway. One building at the educational facility is considered a total loss. The fire is burning in the older section of the school complex. Emergency services are working to prevent the flames from spreading further.
Operations manager Knut Laurits Slartmann confirmed the situation. "The fire department has partial control of the fire," he stated. "They are now trying to limit its spread."
Sørreisa Mayor Jan-Eirik Nordahl said the fire affects the original school structure. A newer section of the school was completed just last year after two years of construction. This newer part remains unaffected by the current blaze.
The school serves children and teenagers in Sørreisa municipality, located in Troms county. This region lies well above the Arctic Circle in northern Norway. Local authorities have not yet provided information about the fire's cause.
School fires in remote Arctic communities pose particular challenges for emergency responders. The loss of educational facilities can disrupt learning for extended periods in these smaller northern towns. The timing is especially difficult as Norwegian schools prepare for the new academic year.