Throngs of youths in Arpainen

Prayer Saturdays, when arranging dances was forbidden, were popular youth gathering times in Arpainen in the 1960s.

There were some many people gathering, and the risk of fires caused by smoking and open fires was so great, the that forestry administration hired people for fire watching during the weekends.

According to Jorma Seppälä, who was a firewatcher in 1960 to 1965, water-filled pumps that could be carried on the back were kept ready in the bushes in case of fire. Jorma even had to put out one small fire once.