Investigation continues into deadly hostel fire in Äkäslompolo, Finland

The investigation into a devastating hostel fire in Äkäslompolo last winter, which claimed three lives, is still ongoing. According to Crime Commissioner Miska Sillanpää, the inquiry is expected to take considerable time. The crimes under investigation remain unchanged: the Lapland police are treating the incident as aggravated public endangerment, aggravated manslaughter, aggravated bodily injury, and a violation of rescue obligations.

Matti Tolvanen, an emeritus professor of criminal law, previously characterized the crimes under investigation as severe. The prolonged investigation is partly due to the fact that most involved parties are foreigners, necessitating the use of a European Investigation Order (EIO) to ascertain their status. The EIO, based on an EU directive, aims to simplify the process of gathering evidence in criminal cases, replacing former legal assistance protocols. Under the principle of mutual recognition, member states must execute investigation orders issued by another member state. In practice, this means that law enforcement from another European country will conduct interviews and other necessary actions within the individual’s home country.

The fire at the Silver Fox hostel, which occurred on February 13, resulted in the rescue of 31 individuals, predominantly Central European tourists, along with four Finns. Tragically, one Finn and two Germans died as a result of the blaze.

According to Pälvi Suokas, the head of the Crime Prevention Sector at the Lapland police, the EIO usage may extend beyond interviews to include investigative measures like searches. The accident investigation board (Otkes) believes the fire likely originated from campfire ashes brought into a cold storage area at the building’s terrace level the previous evening. Although Otkes’s inquiry is still ongoing, it is expected to conclude before the end of the year. The fire entirely destroyed the Ylläskartano building, which was constructed in the early 1950s. The property owner received permission to clear the fire site in early July, and plans for its future will be developed this autumn.