Kouvola apartment block evacuated after second fire in 24 hours

Residents of an apartment building in Kouvola were evacuated for the second time in about 24 hours after a fire broke out in the attic overnight, Yle reported. The emergency services received the alarm shortly before 1 a.m. on Wednesday, and 23 people were evacuated from the building on Sakaristontie.

The building is at least partly uninhabitable following the fire. Social and crisis emergency services arranged temporary accommodation for the residents.

Two garages in the same building caught fire on Monday evening. Some apartments suffered at least smoke damage, and some residents were evacuated at that time. One person was injured in the first fire, but no physical injuries were reported in the attic fire.

At around 7 a.m. on Wednesday, rescue workers were still dismantling parts of the building’s metal roof to locate any remaining hot spots. Smoke was rising from the removed roofing sheets.

Some of the roof will remain in place, although parts of it were bent during the dismantling work. Experts will assess the condition of the building after the emergency services have finished extinguishing the fire. Final clearance work was expected to continue through the morning.

The building has two stairwells, and both fires were concentrated at the end facing the street. Police and the rescue service were due to begin investigating the cause during the morning. Authorities have possible explanations, but no confirmed cause has been established.