Motorhome and tow vehicle catch fire on Highway 7 – second car fire on same road in a week

On the evening of January 20, a caravan caught fire on the E18 motorway at the border of Hamina and Virolahti, and the flames spread to the towing van. The fire started around 19:00, and no injuries were reported.

In Kuusamo, on Kemijärventie road, an unusual accident occurred on Wednesday afternoon. The driver parked the motorhome and entered the toilet, after which the vehicle rolled towards the roadside and overturned. Rescue services entered through a roof hatch and freed the driver. No injuries were reported; a cat inside the vehicle was unharmed.

Overnight stays in motorhomes and caravans outside designated campsites are dividing opinions. Nokian Uutiset investigates where wild camping occurs and what experiences have been gathered. The closure of the Viinikanniemi campsite after rezoning for detached housing is noted as background.

Finland's caravan association SF-Caravan urges cities to create official motorhome parking areas, as many travellers prefer to stay in city centres for access to services and cultural events. A study shows each caravaner leaves over 100 euros in the host locality. In Lahti and Lappeenranta, unofficial spots are popular, but Lappeenranta now charges 8 euros for 12 hours, with only trash bins provided. Pieksämäki offers free parking since 2024 but will introduce fees after installing electricity in 2025.

Finland has sharply increased the fuel tax for diesel motorhomes. Kempele resident Jani Karenlampi keeps his motorhome parked almost all year to save money. The registration fee is 7 euros, but the new fuel tax makes operation significantly more expensive.

A severe building fire occurred in Kotka on Tuesday afternoon, resulting in one person being transported to hospital by a medical helicopter. The fire spread to the roof of a detached house from a motorhome parked in the yard, where it started. The motorhome was completely destroyed, and the house was left uninhabitable. Twelve fire service units responded to the incident.