Flammable clothing may have contributed to wheelchair user’s death in Espoo fire

A wheelchair user died in Espoo after his clothing caught fire in the courtyard of a care home last Friday, with police treating the incident as an accident, reports Finnish public broadcaster Yle.

The man, a resident of the Humana Kuurinkallio assisted living facility, suffered severe burns and died in hospital the following day. Police suspect his clothing ignited due to fire-starting tools and highly flammable fabric.

“It appears he was wearing clothing that was quite easily ignitable,” said Jyrki Kallio, lead investigator and detective chief inspector with Western Uusimaa Police.

The fire broke out on Friday evening in the courtyard of the facility, which provides housing for disabled and severely disabled residents. Bystanders extinguished the flames using powder fire extinguishers before emergency services arrived.

Police have ruled out foul play, classifying the death as accidental. “Unfortunately, the injuries were so severe that the individual died from them,” Kallio said.

Investigators have collected fire samples from the scene and are examining the exact cause. If needed, they may interview bystanders and care home staff as part of the inquiry.