Sørreisa Municipality Activates Crisis Team After School Fire

Sørreisa municipality in northern Norway has activated its crisis response team following a major fire at the local elementary and middle school. The fire destroyed the school building that served the small coastal community. Mayor Jan-Eirik Nordahl confirmed the emergency response in a public statement. "This is completely unreal what we are seeing now, that our school, which we love so much, is burning down," Nordahl said. He noted that many community members are experiencing strong emotions following the devastating blaze. The school served as an educational hub for children in the Troms region. Local authorities are now assessing the damage and planning next steps for students' education. Emergency crews responded quickly but couldn't save the building from complete destruction. The fire represents a major setback for the rural municipality of approximately 1,100 residents. Community leaders must now find temporary schooling solutions while planning reconstruction. Such incidents hit small Nordic communities particularly hard due to limited resources and infrastructure.