Fire breaks out in Jyväskylä apartment building after likely lightning strike

Firefighters in Central Finland responded to a major blaze at a residential building in Jyväskylä’s Kuokkala district on Friday afternoon, with 18 units dispatched to the scene, Yle reports.

The fire, believed to have been sparked by a lightning strike around 14:40, has engulfed the upper floor of a two-storey apartment building. Emergency operations are ongoing.

A witness, Miika Leinonen, reported seeing lightning hit the corner of the building with a loud noise while drinking coffee on her balcony. Smoke became visible shortly afterward, prompting her to call emergency services.

The building, owned by Jyväskylä’s municipal housing company, was constructed in 1985 and contains 45 apartments. The fire is primarily confined to the upper floor of the building, though smoke damage may affect adjacent structures if windows or ventilation systems were left open.

Firefighters are using water jets, including piercing nozzles, to control the flames under the eaves. A demolition vehicle from Äänekoski is en route to remove the roof, allowing direct access to the fire.

All residents have been evacuated. The welfare region’s social and crisis services are coordinating support, including temporary accommodation if apartments are heavily damaged by water or smoke.

Fire chief Mauri Salo stated that operations are expected to continue for several more hours. There is no immediate risk of the fire spreading to other buildings, as they do not share attic structures.