Rautjärvi church gutted in suspected arson,1 dead in nearby fire

A centuries-old wooden church was burnt into ashes in a fire at Rautjärvi area in Southeastern Finland on Sunday morning.

Police said that the suspected arson broke out at about 8:30 am during a Christmas service at the Church.

Responding to an alarm, several units of rescue services and police patrols rushed to the spot, but the fire completely destroyed the Church by this time.

The firefighters, however, evacuated all the people who attended the Christmas service unhurt.

Three to four dozen of people participated in the service at the Church at the incident of fire, local media reported.

After the preliminary investigation, police found crime link to the incident and suspected that it might be an incident of arson, police said.

“The investigation into the Rautjärvi incident is just at the initial stage now, but the police will conduct investigation in connection with the fire,” said a senior official of the Southeastern Finland Police Harri Horttanainen.

The Police are investigating into the incident as aggravated vandalism.

Meanwhile, one person was burnt to death in another fire broke out at a residential building at Torsantie area near the Rautjärvi church on Sunday and the police are investigating into any possible link between the incidents of the fires.

Police are also asking for information about a private car allegedly involved in the fires. The maroon colour car is a hatchback Opel Astra of 2020 model. Police requested the information about the car during the Christmas from Rautjärvi and Imatra areas.