Investigation of serious incident with burn injury in Skibotn in Storfjord municipality
On 15 March 2026, a soldier sustained severe burn injuries after boiling water and steam were released from a fixed water boiler inside a military vehicle during Exercise Cold Response 2026 near Skibotn in Storfjord municipality. The Armed Forces have informed the Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority that several similar incidents have occurred involving comparable equipment.
While on communications duty inside a military vehicle, a soldier was preparing a field ration by adding hot water. The soldier believed that the fixed water boiler required refilling and opened the lid to add water. When the locking mechanism was released, boiling water and steam were expelled from the boiler. The soldier sustained burn injuries to parts of the body.
The Armed Forces have subsequently reported that other similar incidents have occurred involving comparable equipment.
The Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority will map the sequence of events and identify safety issues and contributing factors. The investigation will form the basis for assessing the need for safety‑enhancing measures.
Latest update: 24.03.2026
Facts
| Location | Skibotn in Storfjord municipality |
| Occurrence date | 15.03.2026 |
| Category of Occurrence | Serious incident |
| Defence branch | The Norwegian Army |
| Incident type | Other |
| County | Troms |