The volunteer fire brigade was founded in January 1891 after a fire at the mayor's residence, and is regarded as the oldest volunteer brigade in the Lapland region. Its own headquarters building was inaugurated in December 1902, and a cinema operated in the premises from 1924. It ran the city's fire service under contract from 1934 until the 1973 municipal merger and continues as a supporting unit under a fire-extinguishing agreement. The women's section was founded in 1961 and the youth section dates from 1938.
The brigade works as a contracted fire brigade for the Lapland Rescue Department. The alarm unit has 22 members, and its vehicles include an extinguishing truck, a tank truck and a personnel carrier. Members must be 18 or older and have completed a firefighting course, while crew exercises are open from age 16. Alarm unit exercises are held on Wednesdays, and a youth section serves ages 10 to 15. The car park is wheelchair accessible.
Are you familiar with the brigade or have you taken part in its activities? Share your experience in the comments.
