Fire chief baffled by persistent tradition of burning Tornio River island

Local emergency services in Finnish Lapland are struggling to understand why residents continue to set fire to Likasaari island in the Tornio River, despite strict wildfire warnings and legal consequences, Yle reports.

The 1.5-kilometre-long, 400-metre-wide island near Karungi burned almost completely on Saturday, marking the latest in a decades-old tradition of deliberate burning. While locals describe it as a long-standing practice—with one resident stating, “Someone always lights it”—fire chief Harri Paldanius of the Lapland Rescue Department said authorities were unaware of the custom until now.

“We had no prior knowledge of this,” Paldanius confirmed, noting the fire came as a surprise. “I double-checked with our operations centre—nothing was on record.”

The blaze occurred during an active ground fire warning, which prohibits open burning. Paldanius emphasised that violations carry legal repercussions, including mandatory police reports. “It’s illegal, and there will be consequences,” he said. “We’re obligated to notify police of any burning during a warning period.”

Eight fire units responded to the incident, with one remaining to monitor the aftermath. Paldanius warned that had a major fire broken out elsewhere simultaneously, resources would have been stretched dangerously thin.

Likasaari sits just 80 metres from the shore, where buildings are also located. Strong winds could have carried embers inland, risking further spread. “Then the situation changes entirely, and the fire could escape control,” Paldanius said.

While no police investigation has been launched—no formal report was filed—the fire chief expressed frustration over the tradition’s persistence. “We don’t understand why this ‘tradition’ clings on like a tick in tar. Even outside warning periods, dry conditions demand caution.”

Deliberate burning during fire bans can result in hefty fines, compensation claims, or even imprisonment for gross negligence or arson.