Owner of burned-down Inari shop suspects solar panels caused the fire

The owner of a grocery store destroyed by fire in Inari, northern Finland, believes the blaze originated from rooftop solar panels, though officials have not yet confirmed the cause, reports Yle.

Jari Kekäle, owner of the Nord1-Market in Näätämö, Inari, told Yle that he suspects the decade-old solar panel system on the roof sparked the fire that completely destroyed the building roughly two weeks ago. Kekäle stressed that his assessment is unofficial, as he has not seen any formal investigation documents.

Upon arriving at the scene, Kekäle observed flames concentrated on the roof ridge, with no visible smoke or fire inside the store. He noted that the only technical equipment on that section of the roof was the ten-year-old solar panel array.

Police and rescue authorities are investigating the cause and spread of the fire, with findings expected by the end of April. Criminal Inspector Iikka Rantahalvari previously stated that there is no suspicion of arson, though the technical on-site investigation remains ongoing.

Cleanup of the fire site is currently underway, with debris expected to be fully removed by the end of the day. Insurance assessors are examining the remaining concrete foundation to determine whether a new store can be built on the site. Kekäle admitted his plans for rebuilding remain uncertain, describing his state of mind as “confused.”