Finland provides expert assistance to investigate house fires in Libya
Libya has requested technical expertise from EU Member States through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism to determine the cause of a series of house fires. One expert from Finland will participate remotely in the technical group between 2 and 11 April 2025.
More than 100 unexplained house fires took place in the town of Al-Asaba in Libya between January and March 2025. The fires have caused concern among residents and burdened local and national authorities. The authorities’ technical investigation team concluded that gaseous substances are the most likely cause of the fires. There is a large landfill nearby, which may be a source of gas.
To support its technical team, Libya has requested the EU to provide expert assistance to analyse investigation material and to select measurement methods. The purpose is to identify what fuel or gas may have contributed to the fires breaking out, where the gas came from and how it got into homes.
The work will be carried out at remote meetings of European experts and the technical team on site.
The EU Civil Protection Mechanism is one of the key instruments for providing international assistance. Countries activating the mechanism request help from other countries or the European Commission to respond to accidents and incidents. Assistance provided through the Civil Protection Mechanism is drawn from national resources.
The Ministry of the Interior decides on the provision of international assistance in the field of rescue services, that is, civil protection. The Emergency Services Academy Finland is the employer of seconded experts and is responsible for the training, recruitment and logistics of experts and the practical implementation of international civil protection operations.
Inquiries:
Kaius Kiiras, Specialist, tel. +358 295 488 319, [email protected], Ministry of the Interior
Matti Inkeroinen, Coordinator of International Rescue Operations, tel. +358 295 453 547, [email protected], Emergency Services Academy Finland