Svalbard WireSpecial · Friday 30 October 2026
Special

Safe trick-or-treating

Longyearbyen fights fire with a mostly part-time crew, too little water for a big fire and its own rulebook from 1993.

Svalbard Wire

Or jump to a scene
    Cape meets flame
    Extinguisher at hand
    Svalbard Wire · Advice from Longyearbyen fire and rescue service

    1 The doorstep, as text

    The council’s Halloween advice is about where open flame meets loose costume.

    1. Halloween in the dark

    It is Halloween on Saturday. Children in Longyearbyen go from door to door in costume, in the dark. The fire service asks everyone to think a little extra about fire.

    The fire service’s notice, 29 October
    …Longyearbyen brann og redning (the Longyearbyen fire and rescue service) urges everyone to give fire safety some extra thought during the celebration.
    Norwegian original
    …vi oppfordrer alle til å tenke litt ekstra på brannsikkerheten under feiringen.

    2. A long cape

    A long cape swings behind a child. If a torch stands next to the path, the cape can touch the flame.

    Norway, DSBWide skirts, long scarves and capes that flutter catch fire easily and burn well if they touch an open flame.
    Norwegian original
    vide skjørt, lange skjerf og flagrande kapper lett tek fyr og brenn godt, dersom dei kjem i kontakt med open flamme.
    The fire service’s notice, 29 October
    Long capes, wide sleeves and loose-fitting parts can more easily come into contact with torches, candles or other open flame.
    Norwegian original
    Lange kapper, vide ermer og løstsittende deler kan lettere komme i kontakt med fakler, stearinlys eller annen åpen flamme.

    3. A costume that fits

    This costume fits the body. Nothing hangs loose to reach the flame.

    Norway, DSBChoose costumes that sit closer to the body. Then it is not as easy to touch fire by accident.
    Norwegian original
    Vel kostyme og drakter som sit tettare på kroppen. Då er det ikkje like fort gjort å kome borti eld ved eit uhell.
    The fire service’s notice, 29 October
    …be aware of which costumes the children wear, how flammable the materials can be, and how the costume fits on the body.
    Norwegian original
    …Vær bevisst på hvilke kostymer barna bruker, hvor lettantennelige materialene kan være, og hvordan kostymet sitter på kroppen.

    4. Move the light

    Children walk on the path to the door. Put the torch to the side, where capes don't pass.

    Svalbard fire regulation, § 4-5Everyone must keep things that can burn a safe distance from fireplaces and from things that can be a fire risk.
    Norwegian original
    Enhver plikter å påse at brennbare ting plasseres i betryggende avstand fra ildsted og gjenstander som kan innebære brannfare.
    The fire service’s notice, 29 October
    …make sure they stand steadily and at a good distance from areas where children move, so that costumes, capes and other items do not come into contact with the flames.
    Norwegian original
    …sørg for at disse står stødig og med god avstand til områder der barn ferdes, slik at kostymer, kapper og annet ikke kommer i kontakt med flammene.

    5. Light with no flame

    An LED lantern gives light but has no flame. The fire service suggests lights like this.

    Norway, DSBAbout one fire in four starts with open flame.
    Norwegian original
    Omtrent hver fjerde brann starter med åpen ild.
    The fire service’s notice, 29 October
    …preferably to find alternative light sources without open flame that create the desired atmosphere.
    Norwegian original
    …aller helst om å finne alternative lyskilder uten åpen flamme som skaper ønsket stemning.

    6. Something to put out a fire

    If you light candles, keep something to put out a fire close by. On Svalbard, every home must have it.

    Svalbard fire regulation, § 4-8Every home must have equipment to put out a fire by hand, that can be used in every room.
    Norwegian original
    Alle boliger skal ha hensiktsmessig manuelt slokkingsutstyr som kan benyttes i alle rom.
    Svalbard fire regulation, § 4-7Every home must have at least one smoke alarm, placed so it can be heard clearly in the bedrooms when the doors are closed.
    Norwegian original
    Alle boliger skal ha minst en røykvarsler plassert slik at den høres tydelig på soverom når dører er lukket.
    The fire service’s notice, 29 October
    …having extinguishing equipment easily accessible should also be considered when live candles are used.
    Norwegian original
    …Det bør også være en tanke å ha slokkeutstyr lett tilgjengelig om du bruker levende lys.

    7. Be seen

    It is dark and wet outside. A driver sees a child with a reflector much sooner than a child without one.

    Norway, Statens vegvesen, 2019Without a reflector you are first seen at 25–30 metres. With a reflector the driver sees you eight seconds earlier, which is 140 metres.
    Norwegian original
    Uten refleks er du først synlig på 25-30 meters hold. Med refleks, ser bilisten deg åtte sekunder tidligere, tilsvarende 140 meters hold
    The fire service’s notice, 29 October
    It is dark and wet at the moment. The fire and rescue service asks everyone to use reflectors to be seen in traffic, also on Halloween.
    Norwegian original
    Det er mørkt og vått for tiden – bruk refleks for å bli sett i trafikken (også på Halloween)!

    Have a good Halloween

    The fire service’s notice, 29 October
    Longyearbyen brann og redning wishes young and old a good, safe and memorable Halloween celebration.
    Norwegian original
    Longyearbyen brann og redning ønsker store og små en riktig god, trygg og minnerik Halloween-feiring!

    How this was made

      Corrections: editor@svalbardwire.com.