Police suspect gas leaked from barbecue causes Kalasatama fire

Police are suspecting that gas leaked from the barbecue caused the fire broke out in an apartment in Helsinki last week.

The police continued the preliminary investigation into the large building fire that occurred on Leonkatu in Kalasatama on May 23, said police in a press release on Tuesday.

Determining the final cause of the fire will take weeks.

The pre-trial investigation as a whole will take months and the police are carrying out a technical examination.

They are also in contact with the importer of the barbecue in order to rule out a technical fault.

According to the information received by the Emergency Response Centre, a balcony of a block of flats was on fire.

Based on the preliminary assessment by the police, the fire started from a small tabletop gas barbecue on a fourth-floor balcony.

The police are investigating the offence as causing a public danger. One person is suspected of the offence.

“The male suspect has been interviewed. He denies having committed an offence. The suspect states that he attempted to barbecue safely. According to him, there was no food on the barbecue at the time the fire started. He says it had been turned on shortly before to heat up for cooking. The suspect also attempted to extinguish the fire,” said Head Investigator, Detective Chief Inspector Tuomas Lindholm.

“The task of the police is to determine criminal liability in this case. The fire has prompted public debate on fire safety, but the police will not comment on that matter. Fire inspectors from the Helsinki City Rescue Department are examining the structures of the block of flats. They are responsible for questions related to general fire safety. We are working in close cooperation with the Rescue Department,” Lindholm added.