Your help is needed after Vaajan Valppaat Scouts and Guides lost their equipment in a spectacular fire

(PARTIO/ Jyväskylä) – A wooden warehouse in Jyväskylä’s Vaajakoski district has burnt to the ground earlier this week, destroying camping and other equipment of the local Vaajan Valppaat Scout and Guide Group. The group had just returned from a camp and its material was in the storage place to dry.

The warehouse destroyed to ashes

“This is very sad and the horrible pictures of this unfortunate moment will probably haunt me the next months”’ says Sahu Huhtala, the group’s Leader, who had come to the warehouse to investigate the scene. “The fire has destroyed most of my group’s equipment, including ten camp stoves, several large patrol tents and shelters, as well as a stock of outdoor clothing.” A first estimate indicates that the Vaajan Valppaat Scouts and Guides have lost equipment worth of some EUR 10,000 in this fire. And if this loss was not bad enough, it turns out that the group’s insurance policy unfortunately only covered damage caused during actual camp activities. But not during storage.

Vaajan Valppaat Scouts and Guides during a recent camp

“Despite this incident,” insists Sahu Huhtala, “we will do our best and continue to offer our programme and activities as normal as possible. We are extremely grateful to our neighbouring groups in the Lake Area District for their willingness to lend us their equipment to run our activities for the 140 children and young people in our group!”

To help raise funds necessary to purchase new tents and other equipment lost in this fire, the Scouts and Guides of Finland have launched a fund raising campaign. Anyone willing to help can find more information on their website or transfer donations directly (Bank account owner: Suomen Partiolaiset – Finlands Scouter ry, IBAN FI35 57214620061076, SWIFT/BIC code OKOYFIHH, mention: donation reference 43355).

Vaajan Valppaat Scouts and Guides on the internet and on facebook.

(c) images: Suomen Partiolaiset – Finlands Scouter 2013

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