Patients admitted for care of acute burns in Norway in 1992 were compared with patients in an earlier national survey in 1977. In 1992, 635 patients were admitted for acute burns in Norway, 20% less than in 1977. 8,975 hospital days were spent on care of acute burns, a 45% reduction compared with 1977. 58 patients (10% of all burn cases admitted to hospital) were referred to the National Burn Centre in Bergen. The number of deaths from fire and burn injury was similar to the number in 1977 (68 persons). Despite a moderate reduction in the total number of burns we found no evidence of a significant reduction in the number of severe burns. To achieve optimal functional and cosmetic results, extensive burns still deserve the special care offered in a regional Burn Centre.