Police suspect boys playing with matches caused fire at abandoned building in Vantaa

Finnish police suspect that a group of boys playing with matches accidentally started a fire that destroyed an abandoned building in Vantaa’s Pakkala district on Tuesday, Yle reports.

A boy under the age of 15 is suspected of igniting the blaze, though authorities consider the act unintentional. The building, located on the grounds of the Backas Manor estate, was completely destroyed in the fire.

According to Detective Sergeant Ari-Pekka Mykkänen of the Central Uusimaa Police, the boy admitted to playing with matches near the building after school with friends but claimed they had no intention of starting a fire.

Police identified the suspect through interviews at the scene. While other youths were present, they are not considered involved in the incident. The matches had reportedly been taken from home.

Because the suspect is under 15, he is not criminally liable. Authorities are now coordinating with multiple agencies to address the case.

Emergency services were alerted to the fire in a grassy area near the manor at 2 PM. By the time they arrived, the abandoned building was also ablaze. The distance between the grass fire and the building was approximately 30–40 meters.

Firefighters allowed the structure to burn under controlled conditions. Police have since warned that playing with matches can quickly escalate into uncontrolled fires, urging parents to discuss fire safety with children.