Here the sky turns black on New Year’s Eve

In Norway, the use of fireworks is strictly regulated. For private individuals, use is limited to New Year’s Eve between 6pm and 2am. Elsewhere in the year, you must apply for a permit.

In the big cities, there are also special rules on where launches can take place.

In Oslo, it is forbidden for private individuals to set off fireworks within Ring 2 and at the wooden housing developments on Kampen and Vålerenga, explains Sigurd Folgerø Dalen, head of communications at the Fire and Rescue Service, to TV 2.

In previous years, Oslo municipality has arranged for the launch of public fireworks on New Year’s Eve at Langkaia, within Ring 2.

The last launch was in 2019. The event has since been cancelled. In 2020 because of the pandemic, and in 2021 because of the economy.

There will not be joint fireworks in Oslo this year either.

– There will be no fireworks this year, Marie Berge, press officer at the City Environment Agency, writes in an e-mail to TV 2.

Compound grounds

Berge says that there are complex reasons why there will be no municipal fireworks this year.

– Initially it was canceled due to the pandemic and then it was taken out of the order and assignment to the agency, writes Berge.

The fireworks cost around NOK 420,000 in 2019.

The city council therefore did not set aside money for public fireworks in the processing of the budget for 2021. The same applies to 2022.

– In addition, there have been stricter rules for what and where private individuals can set off fireworks, she says.

The fireworks must be of an approved type. Flying lanterns and emergency flares, for example, are not allowed.

– Like smoking before the smoking act

The regulations are already strict. And it can be stricter.

The Environmental Council in Oslo, Sirin Stav (MDG), supports the decision of the city council majority that no public fireworks are to be arranged.

In addition, she works for a more comprehensive ban on fireworks for private individuals.

– Private fireworks are something that a minority of the population supports and participates in, while everyone has to live with the consequences, she writes in an email to TV2.

Stav indicates that fireworks lead to eye damage, littering, fires and frightened animals. In addition, she says that fireworks contribute to poorer air quality in the city.

– I think one day we will look back on private fireworks in a dense city the way we look today on smoking indoors before the smoking law, she writes.

She believes we must think new and green about how celebrations and markings can take place.

– I have therefore sent a letter to the Minister of Justice and asked for legal authority to be able to ban fireworks in all or parts of Oslo, and await a reply.

Drinks and fireworks

According to Chief of Staff for the Oslo police district Harald Nilssen, people are good at following the rules.

– Most comply with the rules that have been set, and there were only a small number of assignments last year that dealt with fireworks within the zones where it has been decided that it is forbidden to launch rockets.

Most of the assignments the Oslo police receive are about the unreasonable use of rockets. Last year, the Oslo police district had around 30 assignments related to reports of unreasonable use of fireworks.

– We see that the combination of drunk people and fireworks is a bad combination, says Nilssen.

Without restrictions

Public fireworks were also canceled in 2020 and 2021 in a number of other Norwegian cities. For example in Trondheim, Drammen and Kristiansand. But this year, all of them are organizing joint fireworks again.

Last year, the government asked us to keep 1 meter distance from those who were not in the household, and we were allowed to have up to 20 guests once during the holiday season. In addition, there was a liquor ban at events with a liquor licence, inside and outside.

This year there is a free release. The New Year’s celebration this year is without restrictions. This may mean that more people gather in the cities, also within ring 2 in Oslo.

– We expect, as last year, that everyone complies with the rules that apply. We relate to the assignments that come in and are at work so that it will be a nice mark for the transition to a new year, says Nilssen.

He says that the police have available personnel throughout the weekend and are well prepared to deal with incidents that should arise.

– Is it the case that a public firework would have made it calmer for you?

– We deal with what has been decided and handle the assignments that come in, he says.

Protects the wooden city of Bergen

In Bergen, like Oslo, they want to protect the wooden houses. Private launching of fireworks is therefore prohibited in the 12 tree house areas.

But to please the people of Bergen, Bergen municipality is treating a firework show at Skoltegrunnskaien. The fireworks have a value of NOK 300,000.

– We want to keep the wooden city of Bergen. It is one of the big reasons why municipal fireworks are arranged, says Trine Sommerlade, communications advisor at the Bergen Fire Service.

But the future of the municipal fireworks is uncertain. Earlier this year, TV 2 wrote that Bergen is considering replacing the fireworks with drones and lasers.

Private individuals can set off fireworks in the legal areas on New Year’s Eve between 6pm and 2am.

– In that case, it is necessary to follow general rules and take into account the prevention of fire and damage, says Sommerlade.

– Safe

In Trondheim, they have a total of three municipal events. A cairn lighting at 6:30 p.m., a family firework display at 7:00 p.m. and a celebratory firework display at midnight.

– This is an offer for everyone, but especially for those within the prohibition zones, says Merete Mauland in Trondheim city management.

In Trondheim there are also restrictions on where private individuals can set off fireworks. This is both to preserve the wooden house construction and to reduce the risk of fire and damage.

Also in Trondheim, the event was canceled in 2020 and 2021, but this year the fireworks and the lighting of the memorial are back.

– We want people to rather look at the big fireworks that have been done in a safe way, instead of a lot of small ones being shot up all around, says Mauland.