Man ordered to pay over €50,000 for Levi fire caused by vomit-stained jeans

A man who set a fire in a Levi holiday apartment after leaving his vomit-covered jeans to dry on a sauna stove must pay over €50,000 in damages, following a ruling by the Rovaniemi Court of Appeals.

The incident occurred in March 2024 in Kittilä’s Levi resort. After vomiting on his jeans at a bar, the man returned to his accommodation to change, leaving the soiled jeans to dry on the sauna’s hot stove. He then went back to the restaurant.

While he was away, the jeans caught fire, burning the apartment’s sauna and bathroom. The unit suffered significant smoke and water damage, though no one was injured.

In February, the Lapland District Court ordered the man to pay just over €50,000 for causing a public danger. He appealed, arguing the charges should be dismissed or the compensation reduced, claiming he had only acted negligently.

The Court of Appeals denied further review, upholding the district court’s decision.