Police suspect fire that destroyed M/S Pyhäjärvi was deliberate

Police suspect a fire that badly damaged the M/S Pyhäjärvi passenger vessel at Lahti harbour was deliberately set, Yle reports. The fire was reported shortly before 3 a.m. on Monday.

Firefighters put out the blaze before it could spread to other vessels. The ship’s interior and property on board suffered extensive fire damage. No one was injured.

Owner Janne Nurminen said he could not yet estimate the financial losses. Although regular services had ended for the autumn, the vessel had bookings for pre-Christmas cruises.

“It nearly brought me to tears when I looked at it,” Nurminen said. He learned of the fire during the night and went to see the damage in the morning.

Police are investigating the cause of the fire and have filed a criminal report. The M/S Pyhäjärvi operated scheduled services and charter cruises on Lake Vesijärvi. According to the vessel’s website, its final scheduled trips of the year took place in late August.