Emergency Services in Norway: What You Need to Know

We all hope we never need them, but if you do, it’s vital to know how Norway’s emergency services work and the numbers to call in a crisis.

Whether you live in Norway or are just here on holiday, it’s important to understand how to reach help when you need it most. Emergency services in Norway are well-coordinated, with clear numbers for the police, fire service, and medical emergencies.

In addition, there are dedicated lines for urgent but non-life-threatening healthcare, mental health support, and even text-based services for the deaf and hard of hearing.

Responsibility for emergency planning and response is divided between different government ministries, but for the public the system is straightforward: dial the correct emergency number, and you’ll be routed to the nearest control centre.

From there, trained operators will assess your situation and send the right help. I am fortunate enough that at the time of writing, I’ve never needed to dial the numbers. But the information is seared into my mind now for the inevitable time that I need it.

Emergency Numbers at a Glance

When you are in Norway, help is never far away. The country uses dedicated three-digit numbers for each of the main emergency services. These should be your first port of call if you ever find yourself in a crisis.

The most important numbers to remember are:

110 – Fire. Call this if you discover a fire, smell smoke, or need urgent assistance with hazardous situations such as gas leaks.

112 – Police. This number should be used if life or property is in immediate danger, or if a crime is in progress.

113 – Ambulance. Call this for life-threatening medical emergencies such as suspected stroke, chest pains, or unconsciousness.

In addition, Norway has several other useful helplines that visitors and residents should be aware of:

116 117 – The national out-of-hours medical helpline. If your GP’s office is closed and the situation cannot wait until the next day, this number connects you to your local legevakt (urgent care centre).

116 123 – Mental health helpline, offering support for those in emotional crisis.

1412 – Text message emergency service for the deaf and hard of hearing.

All calls to these numbers are free, and operators speak Norwegian and English. If you are unsure which service you need, don’t worry: the operators will make sure your call is directed to the right place.

Introducing Emergency Response in Norway

The Ministry of Justice and Public Security (Justis- og beredskapsdepartementet) is responsible for the basic guarantees of the rule of law. Norway's Minister of Justice oversees the Police, which is run by the National Police Directorate.

The Norwegian Directorate for Civil Protection (DSB) reports to the Ministry of Justice and Public Security. Among DSB's responsibilities include local, regional and national preparedness, emergency planning and fire safety. They are also responsible for Nødnett, the national emergency radio network.

Norway's health service is overseen by the Ministry of Health and Care Services and executed by the Norwegian Directorate of Health. Health services are delivered through four regional health authorities, which manage a series of hospital trusts.

Police Service in Norway

If you need immediate police assistance in Norway, dial 112. The number connects you to the nearest operations centre, where trained staff assess the situation and dispatch resources as needed.

Calls to 112 should be reserved for emergencies: crimes in progress, situations where life or property is at risk, or when swift action is needed to secure evidence.

For anything less urgent such as reporting minor incidents or seeking advice, you can call the police information line on 02800. This service operates nationwide and connects you to the correct district.

Norway’s police force is organised into 12 districts, each responsible for policing large geographic areas. Within each district, a central operations centre manages patrols, coordinates investigations, and handles all incoming 112 calls.

Depending on the location, police officers may use cars, boats, or even snowmobiles to reach people in need.

In addition to law enforcement, the police play a central role in search and rescue operations. If a hiker goes missing in the mountains or a boat fails to return to shore, it is often the police who take the lead in coordinating the response.

They work closely with volunteer rescue teams, the Red Cross, and the Joint Rescue Coordination Centres in Bodø and Stavanger to ensure resources are mobilised quickly.

Norway is generally a safe country, but crime still happens. Knowing when and how to call the police is an important part of staying safe, whether you live here or are just visiting.

Fire Service in Norway

In the event of a fire, dial 110. This number connects you directly to the nearest fire operations centre, where staff will immediately dispatch help and guide you through what to do until firefighters arrive. Calls are free and available in both Norwegian and English.

Fire preparedness in Norway is the responsibility of local municipalities. Across the country there are more than 300 fire departments, supported by around 12,500 firefighters.

Of these, only about 3,500 are full-time professionals. The majority are part-time or volunteer firefighters, reflecting the fact that much of Norway is made up of smaller towns and rural communities where full-time staffing is impractical.

Despite this, the service is well organised. Fire brigades across the country are linked through 22 regional emergency call centres, ensuring that your call to 110 is always answered quickly and help can be sent from the closest available station.

Norway’s fire services do more than tackle burning buildings. They respond to road traffic accidents, chemical spills, and incidents involving hazardous materials. Many brigades also provide rescue services on water, making them an important part of Norway’s overall emergency response system.

While fire is less common in modern Norwegian homes thanks to strict building codes and widespread smoke alarms, the danger is still very real. Wood-burning stoves, candles in winter, and Norway’s many wooden houses all mean fire safety remains a national priority.

Ambulance and Urgent Healthcare in Norway

For life-threatening medical emergencies in Norway, call 113. This number connects you to a medical emergency dispatch centre, where trained staff will assess your situation, provide guidance over the phone, and send an ambulance if required.

The operators are skilled at recognising symptoms of critical conditions such as heart attacks, strokes, and severe breathing difficulties, and will talk you through essential steps while help is on the way.

Examples of when you should call 113 include: sudden chest pain lasting more than a few minutes, unexplained loss of consciousness, slurred speech or paralysis on one side of the body, and any situation where you believe a life is at risk.

For urgent but not life-threatening medical issues, Norway has a dedicated helpline: 116 117. This number routes your call to the nearest legevakt, or out-of-hours urgent care centre. It should be used if your GP is closed and you cannot wait until the next day.

Typical cases include high fever in children, suspected broken bones, injuries that may need stitches, sudden illness, or worsening mental health.

Ambulance services in Norway are part of the public health system, funded and managed by the regional health authorities. Most ambulances are staffed with trained paramedics, while in rural areas volunteer first responders may also play a role.

For Norway’s scattered population, response times can vary, but the country’s emergency system is designed to provide care quickly, even in remote locations.

If you are unsure whether your situation is an emergency, you are encouraged to call. Dispatchers will quickly decide whether an ambulance is required or if you should be directed to another healthcare service. The key is never to hesitate when life or health is at stake.

Air Ambulance in Norway

Norway’s challenging geography means road ambulances cannot always reach patients quickly. Mountains, islands, and long distances make the air ambulance service an essential part of the country’s healthcare system.

Each year, the Luftambulansetjenesten (National Air Ambulance Service) helps around 20,000 patients, using a fleet of helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft.

Helicopters are based at hospitals across the country, ensuring rapid response to both urban and rural areas. Dedicated planes operate from seven airports, providing vital transport for patients who need advanced care in regional or national hospitals.

The service is publicly funded and run by Norway’s four regional health authorities. Day-to-day operations are contracted to professional operators such as Norsk Luftambulanse AS, but the system as a whole is nationally coordinated.

Every base is staffed around the clock, 365 days a year, with helicopters crewed by pilots, paramedics, and anaesthesiologists, ensuring advanced medical treatment can begin before the patient even reaches a hospital.

In addition to its core medical role, the air ambulance often supports rescue missions in cooperation with the police, fire services, and volunteer organisations.

Search and Rescue in Norway

With its long coastline, vast mountain plateaus, and harsh Arctic climate, Norway presents unique challenges for those who live, work, and travel here.

When accidents happen at sea, in the mountains, or in remote communities, the country relies on a highly coordinated search and rescue (SAR) system.

Operations are directed by two Joint Rescue Coordination Centres (JRCCs), located in Bodø and Sola (Stavanger). These centres work around the clock to coordinate resources from the police, the coast guard, the armed forces, volunteer organisations, and private companies. In addition, 28 local rescue sub-centres provide regional support.

A key asset is the Royal Norwegian Air Force, which operates dedicated rescue helicopters. For decades, the familiar yellow Sea King aircraft have been a symbol of safety, but these are now being replaced by the modern AW101 “SAR Queen” helicopters.

Together with the national air ambulance fleet, this ensures that specialist crews can reach even the most inaccessible locations in extreme weather.

Norway’s SAR system is also built on an extraordinary network of volunteers. Organisations such as the Red Cross, Norwegian People’s Aid, and local alpine rescue groups provide skilled teams who respond at a moment’s notice.

Whether it’s a missing hiker, a fishing boat in distress, or a natural disaster such as the Gjerdrum landslide in 2020, search and rescue in Norway is a true partnership between professionals and volunteers.

In any situation where you believe someone is missing or in danger, the first step is to call the police on 112. They will decide whether to initiate a rescue operation and coordinate with the appropriate agencies.

Other Important Helplines

Beyond the core emergency services, Norway also provides a range of national helplines for situations that don’t require fire, police, or an ambulance.

The most widely used is 116 117, the out-of-hours number for local legevakt (urgent care centres). This is where you should turn when your GP is closed and the problem cannot wait until the next day.

There is also a dedicated mental health helpline on 116 123, offering free and anonymous support to anyone experiencing emotional distress or a crisis.

Another important service is 1412, a text-based emergency line designed for the deaf and hard of hearing, ensuring everyone has access to urgent help when they need it most.

Together, these services complement the main emergency numbers and underline Norway’s commitment to ensuring comprehensive access to care, support, and safety.

Norway’s emergency system may involve many different agencies behind the scenes, but for the public it is simple and effective. By remembering the core numbers—110 for fire, 112 for police, and 113 for ambulance—you can be sure that help will reach you quickly.

And with additional helplines for urgent care, mental health, and accessibility needs, the country’s approach ensures that no one is left without support in a crisis.