Prosecutors reopen investigation into deadly Krustkalni fire

Latvia’s Prosecutor’s Office has reopened criminal proceedings over the deadly Krustkalni fire, in which two children died and their mother and another child were injured, LSM reported, citing the LETA news agency.

Lawyers for the injured Dmitrijevs family said they received a response on Monday from the Prosecutor General’s Office confirming that the request to reopen the proceedings was justified. The decision followed a review of the case materials and the arguments submitted in the family’s complaint.

The State Police had previously rejected the family’s allegations that the investigation was poor or incomplete. Police said investigators had carried out numerous investigative and procedural measures, questioned more than 25 people and conducted several inspections and expert examinations, including chemical and technical fire assessments.

On August 10, after reviewing the evidence, witness statements, expert conclusions, responses from various institutions and other case materials, police decided to close the proceedings because no liability had been established for any individuals or legal entities. Police said the investigation had been thorough and objective, while the supervising prosecutor had repeatedly reviewed the materials without finding violations, delays or other shortcomings.

Karīna Landmesere, the family’s lawyer, had previously said that the investigation into the fire in Krustkalni village in Ķekava municipality contained several shortcomings.

The fire broke out in a residential house on the morning of January 16, 2026. Two children died, while their mother and another child were injured.