News from Finland

The church in Rautjärvi completely destroyed by fire - the police suspect that the fire was set
Published 25.12.2022 10:49. Updated 25.12.2022 150.

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Large flames engulf the church in Rautjärvi. - Play on the Arena
Jonas Blomqvist

Mikael Schulman

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In the middle of the Christmas morning service, the fire alarm sounded in Rautjärvi church in South Karelia. The wooden building is completely destroyed.

Alarm about the fire in the church came at half past nine this morning. All people who were inside the building were able to get out safely.

Several rescue units were sent to the scene, but the building could not be saved.

Rautjärven church rauniot tulessa.
CaptionThe church had already burned to the ground during the morning.
Image: Ari Nakari / Lehtikuva
The police are on the scene to investigate the fire. According to the police department in south-eastern Finland, there are signs that a crime may have been committed, so the case is being investigated under the criminal classification of gross sabotage.

Linda Wilen-Veijalainen lives next door to the church. She realized early on that the damage would be extensive.

- From our yard we could see when the church tower collapsed. I don't think there will be much left of that, Wilen-Veijalainen told Yle by phone during the morning.

The map shows the location of Rautjärven.
CaptionRautjärvi is right on the eastern border.
Image: Henrietta Hassinen / Yle
Pastor Leena Haakana tells Yle that the fire was discovered while the priest was giving his sermon. The priest stood in the pulpit and first saw smoke coming in through the main entrance, soon after the priest also saw flames.


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Haakana herself was not there, but she has information that around 30 people were in the building when the fire started, none of them were injured.

Rautjärvi church was built of wood in 1881.

The article updated at 11.50 with more information about the progress of the fire, about the events in the church and about the police investigating the case.

Rautjärvi church photographed obliquely from above.
https://svenska.yle.fi/a/7-10025261