Finnish Red Cross helped people make a fresh start after the fire

Friday, May 23, last year, began just like any other day for Kristiina Kellokumpu, 47, and her family. Kellokumpu was going about her business at home in the Hiirosen neighborhood of Oulu before heading to work. Her youngest daughter had left for school that morning, and her son was in the military. Her older children were already living on their own. Around noon, Kellokumpu set off for Muhos, where she worked as a certified nursing assistant.

A phone call from my daughter changed everything

Around two o’clock, the phone rang. It was Kellokumpu’s older daughter. Her question seemed unreal: “Mom, is your house on fire?” She had heard from a friend about a fire in an apartment building in Hiirosa.

Kellokumpu’s coworkers urged her to go home and check on the situation. On the drive there, the phone rang several times—“Is that your house?” As soon as Kellokumpu pulled into her driveway, her last doubts vanished. Yes, it was her own home; smoke was already billowing from the windows of the living room and her son’s bedroom.

“My first reaction was sheer shock and disbelief—that this couldn’t be true. Fortunately, I knew no one was home.”

A devastating fire left 60 people homeless

Staff from the Pohteen crisis response team of the Northern Ostrobothnia Welfare Region arrived at the scene of the fire to assess the residents’ well-being and collect contact information. All 35 apartments in the building were destroyed or rendered uninhabitable by smoke and firefighting water. About 60 people lost their homes.

“We didn’t have much left other than the clothes on our backs. I happened to have a few changes of clothes in my backpack for work, but my son, who had been in the army, had nothing left to wear but his underwear,” Kellokumpu says.

They found temporary shelter at the home of a sister who lived nearby. Relatives and children living farther away gathered clothes and other essentials from their own closets to help Kellokumpu in the immediate aftermath.

I spent the first few days and nights wondering what would happen next. I had no home of my own, no belongings—nothing. I was completely at the mercy of others.

Finnish Red Cross Comes to the Rescue

On Monday, Kellokumpu received a call from the Oulu branch of the Finnish Red Cross. The victims of the fire in Hiirosen were offered assistance in purchasing clothing, household textiles, and other basic necessities. The call came as a surprise—but a pleasant one.

“The volunteers promised to take us on another shopping trip once we’d found a new home.”

The Hiirosen residents’ shopping trips were centered at the Prisma in Limingantulli, where they could get everything under one roof. On these shopping trips, there were always several families who had lost their homes in the same fire, accompanied by two volunteers from the domestic aid program. The costs were covered by the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.

“With the help of the Red Cross, we bought things like bedding, towels, dishes, kitchen utensils, detergents, toothbrushes… just about every everyday item you need in life,” Kellokumpu explains.

Few people realize just how much they actually lose when their home burns down—until they’ve experienced it themselves. Even everyday items can easily be worth hundreds or even thousands of euros.

Red Cross volunteers provide advice on purchasing items as needed. Someone who has experienced a sudden disaster is often in shock, making it difficult to focus. Domestic aid exists precisely for situations like these.

Building a New Everyday Life, One Step at a Time

A couple of weeks after the fire, the residents were given the opportunity to visit their burned-out home. There wasn’t much that could be salvaged. All the clothes, textiles, light fixtures, and furniture ended up straight in the landfill. At least a few of the most important mementos were saved.

“I took our passports, the kids’ photos, and their preschool folders. Besides that, only a few glass and porcelain items were saved—ones that hadn’t absorbed the smell as much.”

Piece by piece, the home has been rebuilt from scratch.

“The Red Cross’s help was crucial when we had to start from scratch. Thanks to that, we were able to get all sorts of things for our new home. Our relatives and friends were also a huge help; they collected items for us,” Kellokumpu says gratefully.

The Red Cross’s domestic aid program assists victims of accidents through the Disaster Relief Fund, which collects donations every fall on Hunger Day. Kellokumpu himself has often dropped coins into the collection box.

Before the fire, I didn't even know that the Red Cross offered this kind of assistance from its disaster relief fund. Now that it's happened to me, I truly understand how important it is.

Red Cross aid reaches those in need

We provide assistance around the world and in Finland wherever the need is greatest. In Finland, the Disaster Relief Fund helps people affected by sudden accidents or emergencies an average of 3–4 times a week.

The Disaster Relief Fund ensures that aid reaches those in need quickly and reliably. About 90% of the Fund’s donations come from private donors. Your support is absolutely essential!

Even a small donation can make a huge difference

€5: Antibiotic courses for five children in a disaster area

€9: A food package for one week for an entire family in the disaster area

€20 two blankets to bring warmth and protection for persons affected by a disaster

€10 Antibiotic courses for 10 children to a disaster area

€45 Clean water for a three children for one year in a disaster area

€50 Emotional support in times of crisis through volunteer training in Finland

€180 Clothing for a person in Finland who has lost their home in a fire