Electric Wheelchair Fire Sparks Concerns in Stovner
If you thought London was a tough place to live, just take a trip to Stovner, Oslo. Ronny Engebretsen (54) and his neighbor Svein Ruud (75) must be the heroes of a fire safety horror movie—our very own Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson, except without the happy government ending!
The New Firestarter?
It’s not every day you hear about an electric wheelchair spontaneously catching fire and leaving its former resting place looking like a scene from “The Walking Dead.” Ronny believes someone set the wheelchair ablaze, and honestly, if the police refused to acknowledge the obvious, I’d say they’re taking an ‘all-you-can-snooze’ approach to crime scenes!
– The police refused, but any idiot can see that it’s on fire!
What’s Cooking in Stovner?
But wait, the plot thickens! Ronny claims this isn’t just an unfortunate event. Oh, no! Residents are soundly convinced that their council housing in Stovner resembles a scene from a “Die Hard” movie, except instead of criminals, there are suspicious-looking folks sneaking about. We are talking about people kicking in doors at night. Sounds like the local neighborhood watch needs a bit of a wake-up call!
Fire Alarms? You Mean Fire Suggestions!
Are we really living in the modern age, where fire alarms scream like banshees twice a day, yet residents are just… used to it? Ronny has become so accustomed to the alarms that he could probably sleep through a full-on bonfire! Now, that’s talent!
The Stranger Things of Stovner
With neighborhoods bursting at the seams due to a lack of proper council housing, Stovner is the perfect place for the universe to throw “strange” into the mix. You got your drugs, knives, and an alarming number of empty vodka bottles—an adult’s real-life version of “Where’s Waldo”!
Fire Safety? Not So Much!
And let’s not even get started on the fire safety issues. Apparently, many of these buildings are so fireproof they might as well be made out of cardboard! Residents have highlighted that people smoke in the basements, and is it just me, or does it sound like you could whip up a lovely stew of disaster here?
Old Souls in a Disturbing Surrounding
Poor Sonja Harjo, the 85-year-old who struggles to make it down a flight of stairs—if that’s not a fire waiting to happen, I don’t know what is. It’s like putting a toddler in charge of a candy store and expecting nothing to happen! Can we get some safety measures over here, please?
– Safer in Prison?
In a true plot twist, Ronny quips that even he feels safer behind bars than living here! “I’m an old jailbird,” he says, “but it was safer inside than living here.” One has to wonder if the prison guards were keeping a closer eye on flammable objects than the good people of Stovner do!
The Municipal Response
The big cheeses over at the Oslo municipality are waving their hands like a magician revealing their magic trick! “Fire safety is very good!” they claim. But let’s be real—when your definition of fire safety is slapping some sprinklers around and calling it a day while people disassemble alarm systems to have a smoke, you might want to rethink your strategy.
The Bottom Line
At the end of the day, residents just want to feel safe in a home that doesn’t double as a horror show. Community spirit is alive and well in Stovner—between Ronny fixing fire alarms, and Svein cleaning up after others, they’re embodying the true meaning of “it takes a village”—but it’s high time for the municipality to step in and do some serious housecleaning, don’t you think?
As our dear Ronnie and Svein put it simply, “We are not rubbish!” And they’re absolutely right—we all deserve a safe home. Now, how about giving these two legends a superhero cape and letting them save the day?
Ronny Engebretsen, a 54-year-old resident of Stovner, points out the charred floor area where an electric wheelchair recently ignited, leaving behind a trail of destruction.
The scorched remnants reveal parts of the floor are entirely missing, and the walls are coated in heavy soot.
The former welder suspects foul play, asserting that the fire must have been intentionally set, based on the damaged chair he observed from his apartment above.
– The police dismissed my concerns, but any reasonable person can clearly see that the chair was aflame. The damage to the seat suggests it burned intensely and melted down, comments Engebretsen.
– A lot of strange things happen
Both Engebretsen and his 75-year-old neighbor, Svein Ruud, express deep concern over the safety standards in their communal living environment at Stovner, located in Oslo’s council housing. They explain that the agency Boligbygg owns and rents these apartments, yet fear from outsiders continues to plague their peace.
– Intruders have been known to kick in doors at night. Numerous unusual incidents occur here. It’s highly probable that weapons, knives, and drugs are circulating among the residents, warns Engebretsen.
– Everything that occurs here is kept under wraps. I genuinely believe Boligbygg prefers that the extent of issues remains hidden, he adds.
Both are particularly alarmed at the lack of fire safety measures in their building.
– The fire alarm in this establishment can go off several times a day. I have somewhat adjusted to it now, shares Engebretsen.
A fire trap
The government has notably pointed out in a recent notification to the Storting that certain vulnerable populations, including the elderly who require assistance and individuals affected by mental health issues or substance dependencies, are at heightened risk of fire incidents.
Tragically, municipal housing occupies a troubling position in fire incident reports. Alarmingly, a review has found that every third deadly fire in Bergen over the past five years has occurred within such housing, as reported by Bergens Tidende.
The inadequate fire-proofing of doors in Stovner blocks, coupled with the blocking of exits by electric wheelchairs and the use of malfunctioning stoves, exacerbate the risk. Furthermore, the neighbors highlight that individuals frequently smoke in the basements and remove fire alarms.
– They don’t maintain these properties properly, and I’m left wondering how many residents are equipped to handle a fire should one break out? asks Engebretsen.
– They wouldn’t stand a chance, agrees Ruud.
Despair: – We are not rubbish
Both men contend that the municipality’s neglect of building maintenance, alongside a lack of consideration for tenant backgrounds, is at the core of their grievances.
– There’s an urgent need for the authorities to better support and safeguard residents. It’s unacceptable to crowd elderly individuals and those with disabilities into close quarters with people battling severe addiction and mental health crises. It’s common to find used syringes littering the corridors, he expresses with conviction.
– This environment is completely unsuitable for children. They should provide far better options for families, emphasizes Engebretsen.
– Safer in prison
– I’ve had my share of time locked up, but truthfully, living here feels more unsafe than serving time. It was indeed safer behind bars, he reflects candidly.
With a history of several convictions for minor violent offenses, he has been sober since 1997.
Both men resonate with a sense of resilience yet have endured profoundly difficult lives.
Ruud, having endured years of homelessness, recalls sleeping on a mattress in Frognerparken during freezing conditions that dropped to minus 24 degrees.
Over two decades, he has managed to make a home within the Stovner block, personally taking initiative to reinstall fire alarms that have been removed. In addition, he regularly cleans up graffiti to maintain a sense of community pride.
– The presence of Boligbygg is hardly detectable here, remarks Ruud.
– We aren’t complaining, because it’s definitely an improvement over living on the streets. Yet, there must be a more compassionate approach, pleads Engebretsen.
– Very good security
Dagbladet has taken the neighbors’ complaints to the Oslo municipality and Boligbygg, which oversees municipal housing.
– These homes comprise what we have. We fully acknowledge the challenges associated with them. There is a significant shortage of municipal housing, but we do our utmost with the resources at our disposal, states district director Anna Ryymin from Stovner district in an email.
She elaborates that the district collaborates with Boligbygg and local police to improve the living conditions while maintaining fire safety initiatives.
In our view, fire safety in these buildings is entirely adequate, asserts Boligbygg’s communications manager Harald Wisløff.
Wisløff elaborates that the buildings feature sprinklers and smoke detectors, with each unit designed as a separate fire cell. He adds that a variety of security measures are consistently implemented.
Constant kitchen incidents
– Indeed, there are sprinklers installed here, but the reality is that smoke poses the greatest danger, not the flame itself, notes Engebretsen.
He expresses the need for surveillance cameras in areas where residents smoke, as issues specifically arise in the basements, where alarms are disabled by those who smoke. However, Boligbygg has previously rejected the idea of surveillance due to privacy concerns.
According to police records, seven fire-related incidents have been reported at this address in the past year, largely involving cooking mishaps, reveals the Oslo Police District.
The fire service has confirmed their lack of statistics regarding the frequency of fire alarms at the two municipal blocks. However, they have responded to two actual fire incidents and successfully intervened during three dry cooking episodes in the same timeframe.
– These buildings are equipped with fire alarm systems that are directly linked to the 110 emergency services, which also means that false alarms occur regularly, explains communications manager Sigurd Folgerø Dalen from the Oslo Fire and Rescue Service in an email to Dagbladet.
Boligbygg is aware, much like the residents, that the recent electric wheelchair fire likely exhibits signs of arson. They maintain various routine security protocols.
Boligbygg’s fire measures in the Stovner blocks
- Regular preventive fire checks of electrical installations conducted every few years.
- Mandatory audits of electrical systems performed by the designated grid owner.
- Caretaker services are available five days a week, with staff checking escape routes and fire alarm systems routinely.
- On-site personnel are present several times weekly to address various maintenance needs.
- Smoke hatches are routinely serviced through the frame riser to confirm their operability.
- Boligbygg’s fire prevention department collaborates closely with Oslo Fire and Rescue Service.
– Is the safety and welfare of the residents in this burdened area of Stovner as big a priority as in other districts?
– Fire safety, security, and overall health and safety are undoubtedly important across our nearly 12,000 homes in all 15 districts of Oslo, including Stovner, declares Wisløff.
Providing shelter for almost 30,000 residents is a significant responsibility. Yet, we strive to maintain equal priority for all areas, regardless of challenges.
Wisløff clarifies that district officials decide who occupies municipal housing and maintain oversight on available selections, with Boligbygg lacking any decision-making power in this regard.
– We face specific constraints and limited budgetary allocations, necessitating the judicious use of resources provided by local politicians. It is indeed apparent that certain districts experience a scarcity of appropriate municipal housing, and while tenant composition can sometimes be unfortunate, we are dedicated to improving living conditions wherever possible, he adds.
What are the best practices for installing and maintaining fire alarm systems in residential buildings?
L appliances and building facilities.
Despite these measures, residents like Engebretsen and Ruud remain skeptical about their effectiveness. They argue that ongoing incidents of vandalism, drug use, and inadequate safety protocols put vulnerable tenants at risk. Engebretsen concludes with urgency: “We need genuine action from the authorities. Life in Stovner shouldn’t feel like a continuous battle for survival. We’re human beings, not rubbish.” As advocates for better living conditions continue to push for reforms, the voices of residents like Ronny and Svein underscore the real-life impacts of municipal oversight—or lack thereof—in communal living spaces. It’s clear that without significant improvements and a more attentive approach from the authorities, the issues plaguing Stovner are far from resolved.
