Last Friday night, Magnus Fennhagen received a call from his partner, Beatrice Torneus, who told him about smoke coming from the attic of their home in the Hertsön district in Luleå. Their apartment was filled with smoke, and they managed to save some of their possessions. Magnus Fennhagen followed the family’s fight over the phone and drove 23 miles to Luleå to be with them. The property owner, Lulebo, made sure that everyone who lost their homes was accommodated in hotels and promised replacement housing. Magnus Fennhagen and Beatrice Torneus expressed their gratitude to civil society, the landlord, and the church, and also acknowledged the efforts of the Rescue Service. Fires in homes are common in Sweden, with residential fires usually occurring in the afternoons and evenings. According to statistics from MSB, there have been around 6,000 interventions by the rescue service regarding fires and fire incidents in housing annually between 2012 and 2021. The most common injury caused by residential fires in 2021 was property damage, followed by individuals being transported to care units.
It was around eight last Friday night. Magnus Fennhagen had entered the cab of the 10-tonne truck in Boliden’s Aitikgruva, outside Gällivare. A five-day work shift awaited. He spoke on the phone with his partner Beatrice Torneus, who was having a Friday night at home on the sofa. Suddenly there was a knock on the door, she hung up to open it.
– A neighbor shouted that there is smoke coming from the attic, says Beatrice Torneus when DN meets her outside the burnt-down home in the Hertsön district in Luleå.
Photo: Erik Simander
The process went quickly. The 15-year-old son, who was at the leisure park nearby, was called home and helped his shocked mother save things from the apartment.
But the apartment was filled with smoke. Soon they were standing outside with the children’s gaming computers, a school computer, an electric guitar and perfume.
– I didn’t think about our own computer with all the photos from when the children were small. Instead, I got Magnus’ new white sneakers and panties for myself, says Beatrice Torneus.
Magnus Fennhagen followed the family’s feverish fight over the phone from the truck cab in the mine. He realized he had to go home. After a call to the manager, he climbed down from the truck and got into the car to drive the 23 miles to Luleå.
– In the beginning it went quickly. With that, it was more important to arrive intact, I slowed down, he says.
Photo: Erik Simander
It was closer to 11pm when he rolled his Saab into the residential area. The property owner Lulebo had then evacuated the residents to the nearby Hertsö church.
At the same time, 13-14 units from the Rescue Service fought to put out the fire and to prevent the fire from spreading to the neighboring properties, including a nursing home. In the church, the Fennhagen/Torneus family beamed together and shared grief, shock and despair with neighbors from the 13 other apartments.
Lulebo made sure that everyone who had nowhere to stay was accommodated in hotels.
– We have lost our security, our home and possessions. Actually, it can’t be described, says Magnus Fennhagen.
Lulebo’s property manager Rickard Lindbäck is on site at the burned down house. He says that all those who lost their homes will receive replacement housing.
– It can take a little different time. In the meantime, they live in a hotel, he says.
Photo: Erik Simander
Beatrice Torneus stands outside the cordon. Inside, the police forensics technician is working to try to clarify the cause of the fire. One theory that has been mentioned is that the fire started in the property’s attic, but nothing has been confirmed.
– What I miss most are things the children did at school. Memories that are now gone, says Beatrice Torneus.
Magnus Fennhagen puts his arm around his partner.
– The security of having a home is gone. I used to sit in a corner on the sofa with my remote controls and watch TV. Where could I be the old man I am, he says.
The crisis has done the Fennhagen/Torneus couple grateful to civil society, the landlord and the church.
– Yesterday I received a swish of SEK 500 from a completely unknown person, says Beatrice Torneus.
Magnus Fennhagen also wants to raise the efforts of the Rescue Service.
– A smoke diver asked if there was anything he could save. I said a bayonet. An heirloom from my father and grandfather. He went in and got it. Now I have a pair of sneakers and a bayonet, he says.
Fact.Fires in homes
Between 2012 and 2021, the number of interventions by the rescue service regarding fires and fire incidents in housing has been around 6,000 annually, according to MSB’s statistics for the entire country.
According to MSB, residential fires are most common in the afternoons and evenings, most residential fires occur between 4 and 8 p.m.
In 2021, property damage was the most common injury in residential fires. followed by person transported to care unit.
Source: The authority for social security and preparedness (MSB)