Woman admits starting fatal apartment block fire in Jyväskylä

A woman suspected of starting a fatal fire in an apartment block in Jyväskylä has admitted causing it, police said, according to Yle. She was alone in her apartment when the fire began.

Police said they found the woman shortly after the fire. They had previously said they suspected it was deliberately started. The woman, who is about 30 and lived in the building, is suspected of starting the blaze.

A man, also about 30 and a resident of the building, died in the fire. He was found in the stairwell, where police believe he had fled from an upper floor. Police have said they do not believe the man and the woman knew each other.

The fire broke out in an apartment on the building’s first floor, at the corner of Hämeenkatu and Vapaudenkatu, last Tuesday evening. Damage to the building means residents may be displaced for several months.