Explosion and fire at Stora Enso’s Kaukopää mill in Imatra
An explosive rupture and subsequent fire occurred at Stora Enso’s Kaukopää mill in Imatra during the night between Monday and Tuesday. The incident involved a tank containing pine or tall oil, which burst open and ignited following a process disturbance.
The South Karelia Rescue Department received an alarm around 2:00 AM and dispatched approximately 15 units to the scene. Fire Chief Toni Jaakko (or Jaako) confirmed that the fire was extinguished by shortly before 4:00 AM. Iltalehti reports that the accident was caused by a rise in pressure inside the tank, leading to its side bursting open. Ilta-Sanomat adds that the hot tall oil ignited shortly after the rupture.
Dozens of cubic meters of the substance leaked onto the mill premises, but no injuries were reported. Authorities confirmed that the incident did not pose a danger to the environment or people outside the mill area. Jaakko stated that such incidents are rare and that the exact cause of the process disturbance remains unknown at this stage.
