Fire breaks out at Lissu’s Bar in Kalajoki, Finland shortly after opening

A fire broke out at Lissu’s Bar in Kalajoki on Sunday evening, just one week after the restaurant had opened. According to the fire department, the blaze likely originated from a deep fryer in the kitchen. Restaurant owner Liisa Kangasvieri described the incident as shocking. “We have received such a positive response, and our operations were running well. It was a catastrophe that this happened,” she said.

At the time of the fire, there was one employee and several customers present. Kangasvieri noted that the employee was in the kitchen when the flames were noticed by a customer. Fortunately, the fire did not spread to the dining area, but smoke did permeate the space. “There’s a half-centimeter layer of soot from the ceiling to the floor in the dining area. We can’t just clean it with a mop and detergent,” she added. The fire department had to dismantle part of the kitchen ceiling to extinguish the flames, which had spread through the ventilation system.

Despite the setback, Kangasvieri is determined not to give up on the Kalajoki location. “I hope we can complete the renovations soon and have a grand reopening.” Meanwhile, the fire has drawn community support, with locals already offering to help with cleaning efforts.

Fires caused by deep fryers are relatively uncommon, according to Jukka Lepistö from Finland’s Safety and Chemicals Agency. Approximately 15-20 incidents related to deep fryers are recorded annually, but many cases may go unreported. Lepistö emphasized the importance of not leaving hot oil unattended.