News

Suspected arsonist detained in Kemi rowhouse blaze

No injuries were reported but a dozen homes were destroyed in the fire, which police believe was intentionally set.

  • Yle News

Authorities suspect that an intense fire in a residential area of the northern city of Kemi on Sunday morning was started intentionally.

Lapland Police said on Sunday afternoon that they had taken one person into custody.

Map showing location of Purolankatu in Kemi.
Map showing the location of Purolankatu in the northern city of Kemi.

Fifteen people were evacuated as the fire destroyed a rowhouse on Purolankatu in the Marttala neighbourhood. The building included 12 apartments. The blaze started shortly before 6am.

Authorities issued a warning about heavy smoke spreading from the fire into the ​​Purola and Karihaara residential areas. The alert was lifted around 10am.

According to police, all registered residents of the building had been contacted, and there were no reports of injuries.

Police were conducting an investigation at the scene, but did not announce any details on how or why the fire may have been started.

Aerial view of a building with white smoke billowing from it and four firetrucks parked around it.
Image: Antti Ullakko / Yle

Law enforcement officials were carrying out technical investigations, as well as questioning residents, eyewitnesses and the suspect. Meanwhile firefighters were still monitoring the smouldering ruins in the afternoon.

Ten of those evacuated have been accommodated at a local hotel, as their homes were destroyed, according to the Oulu newspaper Kaleva.