Gas stove explosion causes damage at wilderness hut in Lapland

A gas stove malfunction led to an explosion at a wilderness hut in Lapland on Sunday, according to Metsähallitus. The incident occurred at the Karhunjuomalampi day shelter in Pyhä-Luosto, when a group of hikers were cooking with their own gas camping stove. Suddenly, the connector hose caught fire.

One hiker reported to Metsähallitus that the flame was yellow, and the hose quickly became engulfed in flames, as explained by recreation expert Juho Alhainen. The hiker noted that there were no visible damages to the stove or gas cylinder before use, and the equipment had been used previously. The hikers did not wish to be identified publicly.

Alhainen stated that the hikers attempted to extinguish the fire using a plastic bucket, but they overlooked a fire blanket located in the hut’s kitchen. Their efforts failed, and they evacuated, only to witness a small gas cylinder exploding a few minutes later.

“It appears that the flame heated the bottle, causing it to explode,” Alhainen noted. Fortunately, no one was injured, but the hut sustained damage; the door was torn from its hinges and the roof was lifted. “The logs have disengaged from their joints, creating gaps,” added Alhainen.

Remarkably, the windows remained intact. “Perhaps the explosion’s pressure was slightly lower than previously assumed,” he speculated.

Alhainen, an experienced outdoorsman, mentioned he has never encountered a similar incident in Finland. He advises hikers to ensure their stoves and gas bottles are in good condition prior to trips and to avoid mishandling them. While using camping stoves is allowed in wilderness huts, Alhainen refrained from suggesting a ban on their use indoors, noting that this topic may arise in future discussions.