February in Lapland is always busy. The days are cold, the dogs are running strong, and guests from all over the world arrive to experience the magic of sled dog tours. But on one particular day in February 2024, we had an adventure of an entirely different kind – one that none of us will forget.

A Normal Tour Day Turns into Something Else

It started as a normal tour day. The groups went out in crisp winter conditions, faces frosted up with snow dust, and came back to warm up in our kota. After the dogs were cared for, one of our guides tossed a few logs onto the fire inside the kota stove. Soon the fire was crackling, guests were gathering around, and everything felt just as it should.

But this time, the flames climbed higher than expected. Unnoticed, sparks and heat licked their way up into the chimney, igniting built-up soot. Before long, we had a chimney fire on our hands.

From outside, the chimney looked like the afterburner of a jet engine. Flames shot out of the top, drawing in more and more air. The metal pipe itself began to glow red-hot. Worse still, the heat began to ignite the eco-insulation around it – flame-retardant on paper, but no match for the inferno inside. Within minutes, we had a full-blown fire.

Guests Out, Dogs Safe, Crew in Action

This is the moment when you find out what your team is made of. Our guide, Betty, reacted immediately. She calmly ushered all guests out, explained the situation, and made sure everyone was safe. At the same time, we dialed 112 for the fire brigade and began moving dogs away from the burning building.

It was impressive to see how quickly everyone shifted gears. The crew went from normal guiding mode into emergency response without hesitation. Guests were sheltered in another smaller kota, the dogs were secured at a safe distance, and preparations for the next tour still went ahead.

Meanwhile, the fire brigade arrived. Their first assessment: the walls of the building might be saved, but they needed more water. They called for a second tanker before beginning. And that’s when things got worse.

When the Fire Brigade Slipped the Road

As the second water truck approached, it slid off the road and sank into a ditch. Too heavy to pull out, it was stuck. Without enough water to fight the blaze, the fire brigade had no choice but to change tactics. The decision was made to let the entire building burn down and then douse the remains to stop it spreading.

By this point, the roof was gone and black smoke towered into the winter sky. I remember standing with guests for the next tour, giving driving instructions for their sleds, silhouetted against the backdrop of a burning building.

“Terribly sorry,” I told them, “we’re having a little inconvenience today, but the tour will continue as planned.”

And it did. Dogs were moved to a different starting chute, guests were reassured, and tours went out as normal – even as smoke drifted above the kennel.

A Crew That Impressed Me

That day could have been a disaster. Losing a building was a major financial hit, and it shook us all. But what I remember most clearly was how well the crew handled it. Professional, calm, quick to adapt they kept both dogs and people safe, reassured guests, and somehow ensured that not a single tour had to be cancelled.

The dogs, too, handled it beautifully. They shifted into their new starting area as if nothing had happened, happy to run, happy to work, completely unfazed by the chaos nearby.

The Birth of Chimney

And in the middle of it all, as if to mark the day, Cookie gave birth to a single puppy.

We knew immediately that his name had to reflect what had happened. Ideas flew around: Spark, Soot, even Flame. But in the end, one name stuck: Chimney.

Chimney the husky was born on the very day our chimney fire destroyed the kota. Today, if you visit our kennel and meet him, you’ll know the story behind his name. He’s a living reminder of a day when fire took a building, but teamwork, professionalism, and resilience carried us through.

Looking Back

Fires are frightening, unpredictable things. That day was chaotic, stressful, and costly. But it also reminded me of the strength of our people and dogs. Guests were kept safe, tours continued, and somehow, in the ashes, a new puppy was born who carries the story in his name.

Chimney is more than a dog. He’s a symbol of what makes this work so meaningful: dogs, people, and adventures that test us – and the joy of always coming out the other side stronger.