Fire damages former far-right headquarters in Hyvinkää for second time

A fire erupted late Monday night at Otsola, a building in Hyvinkää, Finland, previously known as the headquarters for a far-right group. Firefighters responded to the blaze shortly before midnight, with 11 units dispatched to the scene. The fire was contained relatively quickly, preventing it from spreading significantly, according to Keski-Uudenmaan pelastuslaitos (Central Uusimaa Rescue Services).

The fire affected the building's exterior wall and roof structure. While the cause of the fire is currently unknown, eyewitnesses reported smelling strong smoke at the site around 1 a.m. Tuesday. Rescue services remained on the scene for post-fire monitoring.

This incident marks the second fire at the Otsola property. In November 2024, a previous fire at the building was determined by police to be arson, although the perpetrators were never identified. That fire caused substantial damage but did not destroy the structure entirely. The single-story, approximately 500-square-meter building had served as the base for the Southern Finland far-right network before the initial fire.

Following the first fire, the far-right group reportedly rented new premises in Hyvinkää, referred to as 'New Otsola.' However, they vacated these industrial hall premises at the beginning of the year due to disagreements with their landlord. The latest fire at the original Otsola site adds another chapter to the building's troubled history.

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The outer wall and roof structure of the vacant building burned.