Police suspect that fireworks are likely responsible for a fire that damaged a large two-storey daycare building in Vantaa's Askisto area on New Year's Eve.
One side of the Kimara daycare centre suffered extensive damage and had to be demolished in parts to extinguish the fire, while the other side remained almost completely intact.
Police are investigating the fire as suspected arson.
"Preliminary information suggests that fireworks were fired at the building, and one struck the structure, causing the fire," said Detective Inspector Sampsa Aukio from East Uusimaa Police Department who is heading the investigation.
Aukio mentioned that there were eyewitness reports of the fire starting and individuals at the scene. Several suspects have been identified, though their identities are not yet known to the police.
The daycare was not occupied at the time of the fire, and no injuries were reported.
Emergency services were alerted to the fire at midnight when passersby noticed the blaze and called the emergency centre. The fire was extinguished by around 20 rescue units, with operations lasting from midnight until 6:30 am.
Fireworks should not be set off near buildings
According to Mika Gröndahl, director of the Finnish National Rescue Association (SPEK), careless use of fireworks which can move unpredictably in any direction can lead to such mishaps. He emphasised that fireworks should never be set off near buildings.
Gröndahl explained that the severity of a fire depends on factors like material flammability and how quickly the fire is noticed. He added that if a rocket hits a building's ceiling space with favourable conditions, the fire can spread rapidly.
It doesn’t matter what type of firework is involved, according to Gröndahl.
“If it’s capable of igniting something small, that’s enough,” he said.
While daycares typically have fire safety systems, Gröndahl noted that even large buildings can still catch fire if it starts from the outside in areas where sprinklers may not be effective.
Daycare operations to be relocated
The damaged building cannot be used for daycare operations for the time being, according to a press release by the City of Vantaa.
The operations of the Kimara daycare will be relocated to temporary facilities starting Tuesday, 7 January, when the daycare would have normally reopened after the Christmas break.
The city is currently searching for suitable spaces where daycare groups can continue their activities.
According to the city's website, Kimara daycare is the only daycare in the Askisto area. The daycare completed in 2001 houses about a hundred children.