Grave candle sparks wildfire in Jyväskylä

A grave candle ignited a small wildfire at Tikkakoski cemetery in Jyväskylä in early June, according to a report by Yle.

The head of Jyväskylä parish’s burial services, Tuija Pajunen, estimated the burned area was a few square metres and likely self-extinguished. However, due to dry conditions and the forested terrain of the cemetery, she warned the fire could have spread across hectares.

A cemetery worker conducted follow-up extinguishing at the site and confirmed the fire did not spread further.

Finnish law prohibits open fires during wildfire warnings. Jyväskylä parish, like several others including the Kirkkonummi parish group and Helsinki’s Orthodox parish, has banned candle burning on graves entirely during summer. The Lahti parishes prohibit it during dry periods.

Pajunen suggested some visitors may underestimate the risk, as grave candles are often in protective casings. She recommended bringing flowers instead of candles in summer, noting the flame is less visible in bright evenings. Candles are permitted in winter, early spring, and late autumn, provided dry conditions are considered.

Wildfires at cemeteries are rare in Jyväskylä during summer, though fire services occasionally extinguish fires caused by multiple candles on shared memorials in winter.