Fire-risk homes across Finland are increasingly packed with belongings

Fire and rescue authorities in Finland are receiving more reports of homes where excessive belongings, blocked escape routes and other fire hazards threaten residents’ lives, Yle reports.

In one apartment in Lahti, a strong odour fills the entrance hall. Animals have lived there and defecated throughout the home, while cats have damaged wallpaper and furniture. An oven stands among boxes and other belongings, and the other rooms are filled with broken furniture, cardboard boxes and newspapers.

The apartment is one example of the thousands of homes uncovered in Finland each year. Standardised statistics on fire-risk reports have been collected since 2024. Authorities recorded 2,392 reports in 2024, 3,052 in 2025 and 1,492 by September 2026.

Lotta Holopainen, a fire inspector with the East Uusimaa rescue department, said the quality of the reports had also changed. Nearly all reports received in her area this year have required further action.

“It is also important to look at the quality of the reports. In the past, a report might concern dried flowers stored on top of a wood-burning stove that had not been used for decades. Now we receive reports about homes where belongings reach from floor to ceiling,” Holopainen said.

Authorities have a statutory duty to report homes that pose a fire risk. Reports often reach fire officials through property managers after access to an apartment has been needed for maintenance work. Home care services, emergency medical services and social services may also file reports, as may relatives or neighbours.

Marko Arjoranta, a property manager with Reim Isännöinti in Lahti, said the number of problem apartments had increased in recent years. His company now has to respond to such cases at least every other month.

Marjo Oksanen, head of risk management at the Päijät-Häme rescue department, said the homes that come to light were only “the tip of the iceberg”. The problems cannot be solved by rescue services alone, she said, and may require help from social services and other authorities.

Not every fire-risk home is included in rescue authorities’ statistics. In the Lahti apartment, for example, no formal report was ultimately needed because the fire risk could be addressed by clearing out the home.

Experts say the problem is more widespread than many people realise. People can receive help from several services if they ask for it, but simply clearing the home may not be enough. The problem can return quickly or change form: someone who previously collected belongings may start collecting rubbish after the clean-up.

The issue does not affect only socially excluded people. Reports concern people of all ages, in a wide range of life circumstances and in different types of housing. Older people are overrepresented, however, as efforts are made to support them in living at home for as long as possible.

“In the case of older people, the processes are often longer and are handled through cooperation between several authorities. Older people may not have the functional capacity to deal with the problem on their own,” Holopainen said.

The most common reasons for fire-risk reports are various difficulties with managing everyday life. Some people compulsively hoard belongings. In families with children, the amount of property may become unmanageable. The death of a parent can also trigger an accumulation of belongings when inherited items cannot be discarded for emotional reasons.