Fire at Huittinen peat plant likely started from delivery truck

A large peat fire at a production site in Huittinen, southwestern Finland, likely ignited from a delivery truck, according to the plant operator Neova Oy. The blaze, which spread across 60 hectares of peatland, has disrupted production for up to two weeks.

The fire broke out Monday at Neova’s Nanhiansuo peat plant, with flames and smoke visible across a wide area. Strong, shifting winds complicated firefighting efforts, requiring up to 50 emergency response units at its peak. “In this situation, we try to get ahead of the fire’s leading edge,” said Harri Salonen, fire chief for the Satakunta Rescue Department. “The rotating wind kept changing the fire’s direction.”

While the company described the fire as mid-sized, smoke was reported as far as Ostrobothnia and Uusimaa. Dry, dusty peat and persistent winds reignited pockets of fire even after initial suppression. “We thought some areas were extinguished, but the wind has caused them to flare up again,” Salonen noted.

Neova’s Pasi Rantonen estimated damages in the tens of thousands of euros, calling the incident a “medium-sized peat fire” given the scale of production areas. “Peat fires can spread quickly on the surface due to the dry top layer,” he said, adding that deeper embers might still smolder in drainage ditches.

The company had halted operations Monday due to high winds, following safety protocols. Rantonen emphasized that fire and workplace safety training for staff and contractors is standard practice. “We’re as prepared as one can be for fires,” he said.

Firefighters continue containment efforts, using ditches and softened water—absorbed more effectively than raw water—to isolate the blaze. Full extinguishing may take days.