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27 March 2026
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Bus fire in the Raudhammar Tunnel splits country in half, Norway
The fire of an old bus in the 1.3km-long Raudhammar Tunnel on E6 in northern Norway literally splits the country in half. The incident occurred inside the Raudhammar Tunnel, a road tunnel in Norway designed to carry vehicular traffic through mountainous terrain on Friday, 27 March 2026. Like many Norwegian tunnels, it was equipped with ventilation, emergency lay-bys and safety systems but the enclosed nature of tunnels inherently amplifies fire risk. The passenger bus traveling through the tunnel experienced a mechanical failure that led to ignition, likely originating in the engine compartment. Within minutes, the fire spread rapidly due to combustible materials, including fuel, tyres and interior furnishings. Incident command was established immediately outside the tunnel.
Due to the intense damages of the tunnel was shut down for several days. Heat made parts of the stone ceiling collapse and block the road; wires and partial tunnel cladding were destroyed.
Emergency services were alerted via multiple 112 calls from motorists and bus passengers. Dispatch centres quickly categorised the event as a major vehicle fire in a confined infrastructure, triggering a multi-agency response:
Automatic tunnel safety systems, including alarms and possibly ventilation adjustments, were activated shortly after detection.
Firefighters advanced into the tunnel using breathing apparatus (BA) due to toxic smoke, hose lines for direct attack and thermal imaging cameras to locate the fire and victims. Water supply was established either via tunnel hydrants or external pump systems. Firefighters faced several major challenges including zero visibility conditions, extreme heat buildup deeper in the tunnel, unknown number of occupants and potential for secondary incidents such as fuel tank rupture and explosions.
EMS established a casualty collection point outside the tunnel. Patients were triaged using standard mass casualty protocols. Ambulances were staged strategically to avoid congestion while ensuring quick patient transport.
A unified command structure was implemented, ensuring coordination between the fire services (incident control and suppression), EMS (medical operations), police (scene control and investigation) and tunnel authorities (infrastructure management).
Because the E6 is the primary north-south artery, the closure effectively "split Norway in half," forcing long-distance travellers to detour through Sweden, adding approximately 13 to 15 hours to travel times.
The local municipality arranged a shuttle service between different villages in the area using a boat they bought for civil protection last autumn.
The regional hospital trust had staffed further units to have ambulances in service on either side of the tunnel. Helicopters and EMS planes were used for patient transport.
As of April 2, 2026, the Raudhammar Tunnel (Raudhammartunnelen) on the E6 highway in Sørfold, Nordland, has partially reopened to traffic.
Sources: Various
Due to the intense damages of the tunnel was shut down for several days. Heat made parts of the stone ceiling collapse and block the road; wires and partial tunnel cladding were destroyed.
Emergency services were alerted via multiple 112 calls from motorists and bus passengers. Dispatch centres quickly categorised the event as a major vehicle fire in a confined infrastructure, triggering a multi-agency response:
- Fire and rescue services
- Police units
- Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
- Tunnel control and road authority personnel
Automatic tunnel safety systems, including alarms and possibly ventilation adjustments, were activated shortly after detection.
Firefighters advanced into the tunnel using breathing apparatus (BA) due to toxic smoke, hose lines for direct attack and thermal imaging cameras to locate the fire and victims. Water supply was established either via tunnel hydrants or external pump systems. Firefighters faced several major challenges including zero visibility conditions, extreme heat buildup deeper in the tunnel, unknown number of occupants and potential for secondary incidents such as fuel tank rupture and explosions.
EMS established a casualty collection point outside the tunnel. Patients were triaged using standard mass casualty protocols. Ambulances were staged strategically to avoid congestion while ensuring quick patient transport.
A unified command structure was implemented, ensuring coordination between the fire services (incident control and suppression), EMS (medical operations), police (scene control and investigation) and tunnel authorities (infrastructure management).
Because the E6 is the primary north-south artery, the closure effectively "split Norway in half," forcing long-distance travellers to detour through Sweden, adding approximately 13 to 15 hours to travel times.
The local municipality arranged a shuttle service between different villages in the area using a boat they bought for civil protection last autumn.
The regional hospital trust had staffed further units to have ambulances in service on either side of the tunnel. Helicopters and EMS planes were used for patient transport.
As of April 2, 2026, the Raudhammar Tunnel (Raudhammartunnelen) on the E6 highway in Sørfold, Nordland, has partially reopened to traffic.
Sources: Various