”The study showed that damage to property caused by fires resulting in death was clearly greatest out of all building fires. The spread of threatened property is smaller than average, however. As an exception to previous results in evaluations of intent, the proportion of fires caused by carelessness was small compared with other fires. It was evident that the material of the building’s load-bearing structure had no influence on causing death in fires. The highest number of fatal fires occurred in residential buildings, but there were no differences between types of residential building. There were fewest fatal fires in June and July, and on average fires starting at night caused more deaths.”

Cover: The renovation of the hundred-year-old Finnish National Theatre building is complete. The structure of the building has been renovated and its technology modernized. Fire safety has been increased using various methods: the safety curtain has been renewed and the exit and emergency lighting has been improved to meet current requirements. Escape routes have been improved by, among others, building a new access route from the circle foyer to the fire-separated stair towers.
Photo: Risto K. Järvinen