Tammisaari swimming hall to remain closed for rest of year after suspected arson

The Tammisaari swimming hall will remain closed for the rest of 2026 after a fire during the May Day weekend caused extensive damage, Yle reports.

Police suspect the fire was deliberately set. Two teenagers were in a toilet area of the building shortly before the fire broke out, and one of them admitted to handling fire inside the hall. The toilet and lobby area were completely destroyed, and smoke damage affected the ventilation system and other parts of the building.

City officials said the building had no smoke detectors because Finnish regulations do not require them in structures built before 1996, a fact that came as a surprise to city leadership. The city has launched a review of fire alarm systems in all its properties, and MP Johan Kvarnström (SDP) has submitted a written question to the government calling for mandatory automatic fire alarms in all public buildings with a capacity of more than 100 people.

The city has also ordered an independent external investigation into the fire’s progression. Some city councillors have indicated they may consider accelerating a renovation plan already under discussion for the hall, but said they need more information on final repair costs and the closure period before making a decision. Raasepori municipality has not yet received official reports from authorities or an insurance decision regarding the fire.