Fire at Espoo Auto Repair Shop Destroys Car, Causes Extensive Smoke Damage
A passenger car caught fire during repair work at a Mekonomen auto repair shop in Järvenperä, Espoo, late Wednesday evening, resulting in significant smoke damage to the building. The incident occurred shortly before midnight, with emergency services responding swiftly to contain the blaze.
The Western Uusimaa Rescue Department received an alarm about the fire at 23:27, prompting the dispatch of 19 rescue units from Western Uusimaa, Central Uusimaa, and Helsinki, along with an emergency medical unit and a police patrol (Ilta-Sanomat). When responders arrived, flames and thick smoke were visible billowing from the repair shop hall’s entrance, with smoke also spreading to adjacent areas (MTV Uutiset).
Firefighters extinguished the burning car, preventing the fire from spreading further. However, smoke had already permeated the building, requiring rescue teams to create ventilation openings in the roof to clear the fumes. Ilta-Sanomat reports that parts of the roof structure were dismantled to facilitate smoke removal. Despite the extensive damage, no injuries were reported.
The car was completely destroyed in the fire, and nearby equipment, including a repair shop crane and other movable property, sustained fire damage (MTV Uutiset). The repair shop hall suffered significant smoke damage, with smoke also affecting neighboring premises (Ilta-Sanomat). Rescue operations continued into the early hours of Thursday morning.