Finland Times

The fire was extinguished by the staff before rescue workers reached the scene. The rescue team in cooperation with three police officers evacuated the asylum seekers and tried to disperse the smoke.

No casualties were reported, said the Finnish language tabloid Iltalehti.

On the basis of a preliminary investigation, police suspected that the fire was most likely ignited by a person living in the reception center.

Police have made inquires with some residents in the reception center, but the suspected arsonist has not been found.

The reception center accommodates 120 asylum seekers.

Last year, several suspected arson attacks targeting refugee reception centers or planned reception centers took place in Finland.

Earlier, on December 12, 2015 a fire broke out at dawn in a hotel, which is planned to use as a refugee reception center in Asikkala, southern Finland.

The police suspected the fire was deliberately ignited.

Just two days before the incident, on December 10 a suspected arson in a reception center caused the evacuation of 80 asylum seeker in Tampere, southwest Finland.

 On December 1, a building planned to accommodate refugees was burnt down by a fierce fire in Kankaanpää, western Finland and police suspected that the fire was set intentionally.

 On December 4, another planned refugee reception center in Rauma, southwest Finland caught fire.