The new year was to get off to a brutal start for Sondre Hauge and his roommate Supaporn Yangwaree. When Hauge came home from a family celebration, he discovered that something was very wrong.
– We were at my brother’s celebrating New Year when it happened. I was only going home around 01 in the morning, because I had forgotten my mobile phone. When I returned, the second floor was full of smoke, he tells Dagbladet.
Hauge has lived at and operated Skiippagurra camping in Tana for many years. The main house on the campsite had belonged to the family for around 20 years, but on New Year’s Eve 2023 it was over.
The fire developed, and the main building could not be saved. Hauge and Yangwaree lost almost everything they owned in the flames.
– We lived in an apartment in the main house. The family had stored almost all heirlooms and the like there. Almost everything we owned was lost, including the flat, the job and the shop, he says.
It was a newspaper iFinnmark who first mentioned the matter.
Wild pictures: Winter is coming
Started shop
Before the fire, Hauge and his roommate had started a small shop where they sold food. This too was lost in the fire.
– I have always had something to do with the campsite, and have operated it for a number of years. But when her partner became pregnant, she quit her job. But we started our own small shop where we sold Asian food.
He says that the shop quickly became very popular in the small village. But after both the apartment and the shop burned down, there was little for the parents of young children to do.
– We found ourselves a temporary place to live, and since then we’ve really just been sitting around twiddling our thumbs, while we wait for the police and insurance to do their part, Hauge tells Dagbladet.
EXCITING: Hauge says that it will be exciting to open the store again. Photo: Private
sea view
– Very exciting
But the lack of goods the store had offered quickly became noticeable in the local community. According to Hauge, the cohabiting couple were gradually belittled by people who missed the shop.
– We received very, very many requests to start up again. It’s really fun that people want us back, he says, and adds that they have good news.
The demand will be answered, and Hauge says that they will now reopen the store. This time they are going for a new venue, right in the center of Tana bru.
– Now we are getting ready to start again. It’s quite exciting. We are still waiting for some equipment, but we expect to open again in mid-March, says Hauge.
READY FOR OPENING: The new store will soon be ready for opening. Photo: Private
sea view
Ready for camping
For their home, however, it looks like it will take a bit longer. Hauge says it is still some time until they can move back to the main house at the campsite.
– We do not expect it to be built again in one or two years, depending on how the investigation goes. It is not such a very long season to do construction up here in the north, says the camping owner.
BACK: Soon the Asian grocery store will be back in place in Tana bridge. Photo: Private
sea view
He still hopes that the campsite will be able to welcome guests soon. If all goes according to plan, he will be ready again in the summer.
– Our season is mainly in the summer, so we hope to set up something temporary and run through the season.
Hauge hopes and believes that there may also be a need to expand eventually.
– It will be a bit more challenging now that the shop and the campsite are not in the same place. We will probably be forced to hire someone, but it will be exciting and a lot of new things for us, he says.
