Skip to content
  • Finnish Government
    • Prime Minister's Office
    • Ministry of Defence
    • Ministry of Transport and Communications
    • Ministry for Foreign Affairs
    • Ministry of Finance
    • Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment
    • Ministry of Justice
    • Ministry of Education and Culture
    • Ministry of Social Affairs and Health
    • Ministry of the Interior
    • Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
    • Ministry of the Environment

Valitse kieli:

This page is in Finnish. Go to the English site »

Or choose language:

Den här sidan är på finska. Gå till den svenska versionen av sidan »

Eller välj språk:

Dát siidu lea suomagillii. Sirdás davvisámegielat siidduide »

Dahje vállje giela:

Язык этого сайта финский. Перейти на русскоязычный сайт »

Или выберите язык:

Cette page est en finnois. Aller sur le site en français »

Ou choisir la langue:

Diese Seite ist auf Finnisch. Wechseln Sie zur deutschen Version »

Oder wählen Sie Ihre Sprache:

Tämä sivu on englanniksi. Siirry suomenkieliseen sivustoon »

Tai valitse kieli:

Choose language:

Den här sidan är på engelska. Gå till den svenska versionen av sidan »

Eller välj språk:

Язык этого сайта английский. Перейти на русскоязычный сайт »

Или выберите язык:

Dát siidu lea eŋgelasgillii. Sirdás davvisámegielat siidduide »

Dahje vállje giela:

Cette page est en anglais. Aller sur le site en français »

Ou choisir la langue:

Diese Seite ist auf Englisch. Wechseln Sie zur deutschen Version »

Oder wählen Sie Ihre Sprache:

Tämä sivu on ruotsiksi. Siirry suomenkieliseen sivustoon »

Tai valitse kieli:

This page is in Swedish. Go to the English site »

Or choose language:

Välj språk:

Язык этого сайта шведский. Перейти на русскоязычный сайт »

Или выберите язык:

Dát siidu lea eŋgelasgillii. Sirdás davvisámegielat siidduide »

Dahje vállje giela:

Cette page est en suédois. Aller sur le site en français »

Ou choisir la langue:

Diese Seite ist auf Schwedisch. Wechseln Sie zur deutschen Version »

Oder wählen Sie Ihre Sprache:

Tämä sivu on pohjois-saameksi. Siirry suomenkieliseen sivustoon »

Tai valitse kieli:

This page is in North Saami. Go to the English site »

Or choose language:

Den här sidan är på nordsamiska. Gå till den svenska versionen av sidan »

Eller välj språk:

Язык этого сайта северосаамский. Перейти на русскоязычный сайт »

Или выберите язык:

Vállje giela:

Cette page est en same du Nord. Aller sur le site en français »

Ou choisir la langue:

Diese Seite ist auf Nordsamisch. Wechseln Sie zur deutschen Version »

Oder wählen Sie Ihre Sprache:

Tämä sivu on venäjäksi. Siirry suomenkieliseen sivustoon »

Tai valitse kieli:

This page is in Russian. Go to the English site »

Or choose language:

Den här sidan är på ryska. Gå till den svenska versionen av sidan »

Eller välj språk:

Dát siidu lea ruoššagillii. Sirdás davvisámegielat siidduide »

Dahje vállje giela:

выберите язык:

Cette page est en russe. Aller sur le site en français »

Ou choisir la langue:

Diese Seite ist auf Russisch. Wechseln Sie zur deutschen Version »

Oder wählen Sie Ihre Sprache:

Tämä sivu on ranskaksi. Siirry suomenkieliseen sivustoon »

Tai valitse kieli:

This page is in French. Go to the English site »

Or choose language:

Den här sidan är på franska. Gå till den svenska versionen av sidan »

Eller välj språk:

Dát siidu lea fránskkagillii. Sirdás davvisámegielat siidduide »

Dahje vállje giela:

Язык этого сайта французский. Перейти на русскоязычный сайт »

Или выберите язык:

Choisir la langue:

Diese Seite ist auf Französisch. Wechseln Sie zur deutschen Version »

Oder wählen Sie Ihre Sprache:

Tämä sivu on saksaksi. Siirry suomenkieliseen sivustoon »

Tai valitse kieli:

This page is in German. Go to the English site »

Or choose language:

Den här sidan är på tyska. Gå till den svenska versionen av sidan »

Eller välj språk:

Язык этого сайта немецкий. Перейти на русскоязычный сайт »

Или выберите язык:

Cette page est en allemand. Aller sur le site en français »

Ou choisir la langue:

Wählen Sie Ihre Sprache:

  • Valitse kieli Suomi
  • Välj språket Svenska
  • Select language English
Media
Go to Sisäministeriö site frontpage
  • Frontpage
  • Areas of expertise
    • Police
    • Rescue services
    • Emergency response
    • Border management
    • Migration
    • National security
    • Civilian crisis management
    • Flag and arms of Finland
  • Current issues
  • Projects and legislation
  • Publications
  • Ministry
  • Contact
  • News
  • Sign up for news
  • Ukraine
  • Situation at the eastern border
  • Work Help Finland
suomiLue artikkeli suomeksi svenskaLäs artikeln på svenska English

Marko Hassinen and Kalle Kuparinen receive innovation award by the Fire Protection Fund

Ministry of the Interior
Publication date 21.11.2019 10.15
Type:Press release 97/2019

The Fire Protection Fund’s innovation award for 2019 was shared between Senior Research Scientist Marko Hassinen for developing a detection scope for extinguishing fires and Firefighter Kalle Kuparinen for a wall support used for firefighting and clearance work.

The detection scope for extinguishing fires makes it possible to fight fires from outside a building and exposes firefighters to less risk related to firefighting. The wall support improves the occupational safety of rescue personnel and makes the use of the ladder fleet more diverse.

The winners of the innovation award were announced on Thursday 21 November in the rescue services’ theme days in Joensuu. The total amount of the award is EUR 20,000, of which each winner received EUR 10,000.

Detection scope for extinguishing fires reduces employees’ exposure to harmful effects and makes smoke diving easier

The detection scope developed by Marko Hassinen makes it possible to inspect externally the site being extinguished and to locate where the fire started from and to search for any people in the site that need to be rescued.

During the inspection of the site, a small hole is made into the wall of a building or a door or window frame. The detection scope has an observer part that is pushed through the hole into the burning space. Hassinen has built the device himself and programmed an application for moving the detection scope. The application works in a mobile device, so its use does not tie up personnel resources. The head of the device rotates freely in the site, which means that it is possible to inspect the whole room by observation.

"Since it is possible to extinguish fires from outside the building, people are far less likely to be exposed to flue gases and heat. Moreover, the detection scope improves occupational safety. You don’t need to go inside the burning space until it has cooled down and been ventilated", says Hassinen.

There is a thermal camera at the tip of the detection scope that transmits pictures of the burning site to the terminal equipment used by the firefighter. The camera can be used to target the water for extinguishing right at the seats of fire and combustion gases. Only verified hot sites on the premises are extinguished with water. This way, the water used in the space evaporates, extinguishing the fire more effectively. As a result, there is much less water damage to the site and the amount of water used for extinguishing fires, which is recognised to be a problem to the environment, is smaller.

"The best thing about the detection scope is that you only need a few people to start extinguishing the fire. With the scope, even just one firefighter can fight the fire effectively and doesn’t even need to be a qualified rescue diver," says Hassinen.

The innovation also improves fire safety in sparsely populated areas, because it is possible to start fighting the fire safely as soon as the first unit arrives at the site.

Wall support installed on ladders makes work safer

The wall support developed by Kalle Kuparinen consists of an additional component that can be attached to the ladder fleet. The wall support makes it safer to work on ladders and ladders used by rescue services can be used in more versatile ways. The support does not require major investments or structural changes to ladders, as it is suitable for the existing ladder fleet. Since it is small, the wall support takes very little space in rescue vehicles.

"The best thing about the wall support is that it is easy to use. It's made of aluminium, which makes it light. It clicks fast into place on the ladder. The product is designed to meet the needs of the users," says Kalle Kuparinen.

This innovation allows rescue workers to adjust the distance between the ladder and the wall so that it makes it easier to work. This means that the angle is less steep, which makes the position of the ladder more stable and gives the rescue workers more space to work with their hands. When the working position is better and firmer, there is less risk of falling and occupational safety is improved.

The wall support makes it possible to use a cutting extinguisher more efficiently, because it is safer to use on a ladder. It also makes it possible to use other kinds of extinguishing tools.

"The idea of the invention was to develop a solution to make better use of the fire extinguisher. Thanks to the tips received along the way, we were able to make it more adaptable to a wide range of rescue and clearance operations. Now I hope a suitable company will start manufacturing the wall support for fire brigades", says Kuparinen.

What is the innovation award of the Fire Protection Fund

The innovation award of the Fire Protection Fund aims to encourage companies, organisations, rescue personnel and individuals to develop new, more efficient and safer equipment, procedures and working methods. It also strives to improve the visibility and esteem of the rescue services in society. The award may be granted for an innovation developed by companies, organisations or individuals that has significantly contributed to these objectives. The innovation can be a device, tool or machine, work method, mode of operation or any other similar new invention.

Inquiries

Marko Hassinen, Senior Research Scientist, marko.hassinen@pelastusopisto.fiLink to an external website
Kalle Kuparinen, Firefighter, kalle.kuparinen@vantaa.fiLink to an external website
Johanna Herrala, Secretary-General of the Fire Protection Fund, tel. +358 295 488460, johanna.herrala@intermin.fi

Read more about the innovation awardLink to an external website
Watch the video on the innovation award (in Finnish)Link to an external website
Fire Protection Fund industrial safety innovations rescue services

MINISTRY OF THE INTERIOR
Sisäministeriö | Inrikesministeriet

Kirkkokatu 12, Helsinki
PO Box 26, FI-00023 Government
Tel. 0295 480 171 (switchboard)
registry.sm@gov.fi

About the site
Accessibility statement
Data protection
Sitemap
Questions and feedback

X (Twitter)
Instagram
LinkedIn
Facebook
YouTube

Search page
  • Frontpage
  • Areas of expertise
    • Police
      • Government Programme measures in the police sector
      • Crime in Finland
      • Organised crime
        • Fight against organised crime
      • Counter-terrorism
        • Counter-terrorism measures in Finland
      • Violent radicalisation
        • Action plan monitoring
      • Hate crime
        • Online targeting and shaming
      • Human trafficking
      • Economic crime and the shadow economy
      • Cybercrime
        • Tackling cybercrime
      • Firearms
        • Firearms legislation
      • Gambling
      • Fundraising
      • Public order and security
      • Private security sector
      • Agencies and responsibilities
    • Rescue services
      • Government Programme measures in rescue services
      • Rescue operations
        • Maritime search and rescue
        • Emergency warnings
      • Accident prevention
        • Chimney sweeping
        • Smoke alarms and other fire safety equipment
          • Smoke alarm
          • Responsibility for smoke alarms to change in 2026
          • Carbon monoxide and heat detectors
          • First-aid extinguishing equipment
          • Fire safety systems of buildings
          • Systems connected to the ERC
          • Supervision of fire safety equipment
          • Frequently asked questions about smoke alarms
        • Emergency plan
        • Fire safety
      • Preparedness
        • National risk assessment
        • Civil defence
        • Civil defence shelters
        • Preparedness guide
      • International assistance
        • International cooperation in civil preparedness
        • Civil Protection Mechanism
      • Rescue Services Strategy
      • Rescue service agencies and responsibilities
    • Emergency response
      • Emergency response centres
      • Services
    • Border management
      • Government Programme measures to reform border security
      • Border surveillance
      • Maritime search and rescue
      • Fight against environmental damage in sea areas
      • Smart Borders
      • Frontex cooperation
      • Agencies and responsibilities
    • Migration
      • Government Programme measures to reform migration policy
        • Stricter conditions for permanent residence permits
      • Agencies and responsibilities
        • Preparing for large-scale influxes of migrants
      • Migration and asylum policy
        • Family reunification
      • Refugees and asylum seekers
        • Quota refugees
      • EU migration and asylum system
      • Voluntary and forced return
        • Readmission agreements
      • Nationality
        • Preconditions for and effects of acquiring Finnish citizenship
        • Expatriate Finns
      • Combating irregular entry and stay
    • National security
      • Government Programme measures to reform national security
      • What is national security?
        • Critical Infrastructure Protection and Crisis Resilience Act
      • Civilian intelligence
        • Questions and answers about civilian intelligence legislation
      • Hybrid threats
      • Cyber security
    • Civilian crisis management
      • Finland's objectives
      • Finnish experts serving in operations
      • Recruitment and training
      • Agencies and responsibilities
      • Legislation
    • Flag and arms of Finland
      • Flag days
        • Flagdays 2025
        • Proposals for flag days
      • Flying the flag at half mast
      • Flying the EU flag
      • Order of precedence
      • About the flag
        • History of the flag
      • Arms of Finland
      • The flag and coat of arms in commercial activities
  • Current issues
    • News
      • News archive
    • Sign up for news
    • Ukraine
      • Civilian material assistance to Ukraine
        • Laptops for Ukraine
        • Civilian assistance sent from Finland
      • Helping Ukrainians
      • Temporary protection
      • Frequently asked questions
    • Situation at the eastern border
    • Work Help Finland
      • Accessibility statement
      • Privacy policy
  • Projects and legislation
    • Reform of legislation on civilian intelligence
    • Passport project
    • Strengthening crime prevention
      • Answers to questions about biometric data regulation
    • Reform of the gambling system
      • Questions and answers on gambling system reform
    • Shooting ranges project
    • Reform of the Citizenship Act
      • Frequently asked questions
    • Interoperability of data within EU information systems for security
    • Secure satellite communication services
  • Publications
  • Ministry
    • Tasks and objectives
    • Management and organisation
      • Minister of the Interior
      • Permanent Secretary
      • Departments and units
    • Branch of government
    • Joint strategy for the Ministry's administrative branch
    • Operations and finances
    • Government Report on Internal Security
      • Government Report on Internal Security 2021
        • Abstract of the Report in easy-to-read language
    • International and EU cooperation
      • Priorities in EU and international affairs
      • Sub-committees on EU affairs
      • Finland and Nato
    • Oversight of legality
      • Oversight of legality at agencies within the Ministry’s branch of government
    • Research
      • Sentimentti data tool
      • Strategic foresight
    • Funds
    • Ministry as workplace
      • Personnel
      • Responsibility
      • Ministry’s pay system
      • Applying for a job
      • Traineeships
    • Whistleblower protection
    • History of the ministry
  • Contact
    • Submissions for consideration
      • Submission form
    • Request for information
      • Information request form
    • Contact information of the management, departments and units
    • Communications Unit
    • Data protection
      • Information on cookies
    • Accessibility statement
    • Feedback