Fire destroys Ruka restaurant

14th February 2011, by Chris Gill

Ruka ski area

The oldest mountain restaurant in Ruka, Finland, was destroyed by fire at the weekend.

The blaze broke out in the SkiBistro restaurant on Saturday evening, damaging much of the three-storey building, which used to seat 600 and have a large sun terrace. A pedestrian spotted the flames around midnight, alerting the authorities. Regular visitors to Ruka and to the restaurant expressed their disappointment as a small piece of the area’s history was lost. And the fire has happened just as the peak season holidays start, although Ruka does at least have a handful of other dining venues.

The cause is being investigated, but first reports suggest it began in a bar area. Thankfully the restaurant had closed for the night, so no one was hurt – staff having gone home a couple of hours earlier.

Ruka is a lively resort, recently redeveloped with a new pedestrian village. Situated about 80km from the Arctic Circle and with plenty of the Finnish outdoor activities, it’s a popular family choice.

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