The quick response of the fire department in Tálknafjördur, the West Fjords, prevented a local house from being completely destroyed in a fire yesterday. A mother and son who were at home when the fire started were able to evacuate in time.
Tálknafjördur. Photo by Páll Stefánsson.
Firefighters arrived at the scene seven minutes after the fire was reported and fire marshal Davíd Rúnar Gunnarsson told Morgunbladid that had they taken any longer, the house would have been aflame.
Anton Halldór Jónsson, the house’s resident, said the electricity had gone out at approximately 7:45 pm and while searching for the cause he found that the electricity box which was connected to an electric heater was on fire and had obviously been burning for some time.
“We were incredibly lucky,” Jónsson said, referring to him and his mother having been awake when the fire started so that they could report the fire and make their escape. “We left the house immediately,” he added, complimenting the firefighters.
A wall had to be torn down as well as the panels of the loft and the house had to be cleared of smoke. Jónsson said the damage will cost millions of ISK but he is insured and no one was hurt. The repairs will take weeks.
ESA
