Cause of May fire in Helsinki’s Puu-Käpylä remains unknown

The cause of a fire that damaged a protected wooden house in Helsinki’s Puu-Käpylä district in late May remains undetermined after police concluded their investigation, Yle reports.

The blaze, which broke out on 28 May, destroyed the roof and upper sections of the 1921 building. Police examined the scene, interviewed witnesses, and focused on one resident who had smoked before the fire. However, investigators found no evidence of negligence or criminal intent.

“There was nothing to suggest a crime,” said Jari Korkalainen, the lead investigator and detective chief inspector with Helsinki Police. He noted that while sparks from a cigarette lighter used on the terrace could theoretically have ignited the fire, this remains speculative.

The two-storey building, home to three apartments, was about to undergo exterior renovations at the time. Police ruled out the renovation work as a potential cause.

With no party held liable, insurance companies will handle compensation claims. The building, protected due to its historical status, will be repaired, though costs are expected to run into tens of thousands of euros just for planning. Structural damage and water used to extinguish the fire caused further harm.

“It’s a major loss,” said Ulla Haikonen of property management firm Asuma Palvelut. The building must be dismantled down to its log frame before reconstruction. Residents are unlikely to return this year.