A 58-year-old man was arrested on Monday in Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo, in the district of Guarda, on suspicion of committing the crime of forest fire, according to a statement from the Polícia Judiciária (PJ) released today.
The inspectors reported that the fire occurred precisely in Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo during the current month of October.
The suspect allegedly set the fire using direct flame on brambles, aiming to clear the land and renew pastures. However, the meteorological conditions were conducive to fire spread and the risk of fire was very high, endangering a large forest area, grazing land, and agricultural area, as well as valuable assets such as warehouses and homes in the village of Vilar Amargo.
The “criminal action,” as described by the PJ, did not devastate an even larger area because it was detected in time and quickly combated by local residents and firefighters.
The man will now face an initial judicial interrogation to determine the appropriate preventive measures.
The inquiry is led by the Public Prosecutor’s Office (MP) of Guarda.
