A 61-year-old man has been arrested for committing forest arson in Tondela, as revealed by the Polícia Judiciária (PJ) in a statement released on Friday.
According to investigators, the crime took place on June 16 in the Tondela area.
The suspect used a small blowtorch to ignite a fire in a eucalyptus forest, located within a large forested area and adjacent to urban zones. The blaze did not reach more severe proportions due to the swift response of firefighters from Tondela and Cabanas de Viriato, the PJ stated.
Investigators highlighted that conditions on that day were extremely fire-prone, with temperatures around 40°C and low relative humidity, ideal for sparking a large-scale blaze.
The man is now to be presented to the Judicial Court of Viseu for his first judicial interrogation, where appropriate preventive measures will be determined.
Enhancement of Prevention and Cooperation
Portugal has made significant strides in combating forest fires in recent years, especially after the devastating events of 2017.
The country has strengthened cooperation, prevention, and investigation through a multidisciplinary approach, producing positive outcomes and significantly reducing unexplored incidents.
Between 2001 and 2017, 57% of fires went uninvestigated, but over the past five years, only 8.06% of occurrences remain unresolved, according to data from the Polícia Judiciária (PJ).
Reinforcing surveillance and territory monitoring by the Guarda Nacional Republicana (GNR) is one of the adopted strategies in fighting fires.
Many Arsonists Have Mental Health and Substance Abuse Issues
The profiles of arsonists in Portugal are varied, but studies show many have a history of mental health problems and substance abuse.
The majority are male, motivated by anger, revenge, or family issues. Additionally, 61% of rural arsonists studied exhibit mental health issues and alcoholism, as revealed by a recent study by forensic psychologist Cristina Soeiro.
Eighty watchtowers and over 140 forest surveillance cameras have been activated to prevent and detect fires as part of the Safe Forest Campaign, stated the GNR, which has already arrested 18 alleged arsonists.
Lusa | 09:14 – 10/05/2025
Summer is the most critical period for fire occurrences, with extreme weather conditions facilitating the spread of flames.
However, the total number of ignitions has decreased significantly, with 7,523 rural fires recorded in 2023, the lowest number since 2001.
It should be noted that nearly 50 municipalities in Faro, Bragança, Guarda, Vila Real, Viseu, Coimbra, Castelo Branco, and Portalegre are currently at maximum risk of rural fire, according to the Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera (IPMA).
The IPMA has also placed several municipalities in all districts of mainland Portugal at very high and high fire risk.
According to the institute’s forecasts, fire risk will remain elevated in some districts at least through the weekend.
