A gas cylinder led to a risk of explosion after a fire in two warehouse buildings at Vigra in Giske last night. There were two gas cylinders inside one of the buildings. One of them contained oxygen, the other contained the flammable and explosive substance acetylene.
A sniper was supposed to shoot a hole in the bottle on Monday morning. But Christian Vegsund in the police says that they have now lowered the gas bottle into the sea instead.
– There was so much soot damage to the bottles that it was not possible to identify the correct bottle. One could not see what was oxygen and what was acetylene. So then there was alternative two, which is to sink them in the sea and leave them there for a day. They are then cooled so that there is no longer a risk of explosion.
46 households evacuated
A zone of 300 meters in the area has been evacuated. It applies to 46 households.
Residents in the area were notified via mobile phone in the morning. In addition, the fire service drove around with sirens in the area to wake people up, accident manager Odd-Arne Brunjulfsen told NRK.
Those who live in the area were warned and asked to evacuate.
Photo: Mathilde Nyhammer
Giske municipality informs that the check-in area at Ålesund Airport is the meeting point for the evacuees.
– There are some who have come to the airport, but it seems that many have found other solutions with friends and family, says Brynjulfsen.
Everyone who lives in the area is encouraged to leave all windows open due to the smoke and toxic gases.
Fire in a warehouse at Vigra in Sunnmøre.
No risk of spreading
Emergency services are on site. In addition to the danger of explosion, there are toxic gases in connection with the fire. No injured persons have been reported. But the buildings have already suffered major damage.
Both Ålesund fire brigade and Giske fire brigade are on site with all available equipment. They also receive assistance from the fire brigade from Ålesund airport Vigra.
The extinguishing work is ongoing from both land and sea. The report about the fire came at 04.20.
– The building is by itself out on a breakwater, so there is no risk of spreading to other buildings, says Franck.
The police report toxic smoke and the risk of an explosion.
Photo: Charlotte Ervik / NRK
2023-07-24 09:22:24
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