Fire destroys car dealership in Lahti, sales move outdoors

A fire tore through the Mega-Auto dealership in Lahti on Thursday, causing hundreds of thousands of euros in damage but no injuries, Finnish public broadcaster Yle reports.

Five vehicles were completely destroyed by firefighting efforts, according to managing director Jari Drake. The blaze broke out during roofing work when a passerby spotted flames and alerted authorities. By the time Drake arrived, the roof was fully engulfed.

While no cars were directly damaged by fire, water and smoke ruined the showroom. The dealership will conduct sales in outdoor temporary facilities starting Friday, though repair operations remain unaffected. Drake emphasized that the priority was the safety of staff, who evacuated before smoke filled the building.

Structural drying and repairs are required before normal operations can resume. The fire’s total financial impact remains under assessment, though initial estimates place it in the hundreds of thousands of euros.