A major fire incident occurred on November 5 at a warehouse owned by Pyrokratia Oy in Janakkala, Finland, where investigators from the Safety and Chemicals Agency (Tukes) determined that the incident was likely initiated by a damaged firework. Despite their efforts, Tukes could not pinpoint a single definitive cause, but suggested that damage to the firework may have made it highly flammable, potentially igniting due to a static electricity spark or mechanical friction.

The incident was triggered when a worker was inspecting a cardboard box containing professional fireworks that had been returned from a fireworks display in France. Upon touching a firework inside the box, it ignited, leading to a catastrophic chain reaction that set off other fireworks stored in the container. At the time of the explosion, five container doors were open due to an inventory check, which allowed the fireworks’ projectiles to spread explosively from one container to another.

The aftermath of the incident raises serious safety concerns for similar facilities and underlines the importance of proper handling and storage of hazardous materials such as fireworks. As more investigations and analyses are expected from Tukes, the incident serves as a reminder of the potential risks associated with improper management of flammable materials in the fireworks industry.