Pori art museum still repairing damage from fire five years ago

Nearly five years after a fire damaged around 1,200 artworks in Pori Art Museum, conservation work continues, with about 100 pieces still awaiting restoration, Yle reports.

The blaze, which broke out in July 2021 after a parked truck was set alight near the museum, spread to the building’s roof structure. While firefighters contained the flames, smoke and water exposure affected roughly 1,200 of the 2,000 works stored on-site.

Conservator Johanna Nikander is leading the painstaking repair process, using unexpected tools like cotton wool, barbecue skewers, and even her own saliva to clean smoke-damaged pieces. “Saliva is the magic ingredient for smoke removal,” she explained, noting that while commercial synthetic saliva exists, it is costly. Specialized tools like heated spatulas and HEPA-filtered vacuums are also employed.

The museum’s collection manager, Jasmin Lehtiniemi, recalled the shock of discovering the fire upon returning from leave. “Our job is to preserve these works indefinitely. The thought of losing the collection was devastating.” She praised the swift response of firefighters, who minimized water damage, and the solidarity of colleagues nationwide who offered expertise.

Some works, like Akseli Gallen-Kallela’s Tulen synty (Birth of Fire), suffered unrelated damage, such as cracking paint. The museum aims to complete all repairs by the end of 2024, though the arsonist remains unidentified after police closed the investigation.