Careless cigarette handling suspected in fatal Rauma fire

Careless handling and extinguishing of cigarette butts is the suspected cause of a fire that killed two people in Rauma, Yle reports.

The fire broke out in a terraced-house apartment on Lensunkalliontie in mid-April. The two people who died were adults who lived in the apartment, police said.

Investigators found grounds to suspect negligence in the handling and extinguishing of cigarette butts, prompting police to open a criminal investigation. Police suspect one of the deceased may have negligently caused a general danger and caused the other person’s death. The case will not be referred for prosecution because the suspect died in the fire.

The terraced house had three apartments. One was empty when the fire started, and two people were evacuated from another apartment. No other residents were injured, but the fire caused significant financial damage.