A 39-year-old man has been arrested by the Polícia Judiciária (PJ) for allegedly committing eight forest fires between August 6 and 12 in Serra de Todo o Mundo, within the municipalities of Cadaval and Caldas da Rainha.
In a statement, the PJ detailed that upon receiving reports of the incidents, an investigation commenced, leading to the identification of the suspect. The man reportedly used direct fire to ignite the blazes, motivated by trivial reasons.
The fires erupted in a rural area with a vast forest cover, mainly eucalyptus and other species, leading to an as-yet-undetermined burned area.
The PJ further noted that besides the scorched area, there was a significant threat of the fires spreading to nearby communities, a danger averted by the prompt detection and swift response from the Volunteer Firefighters of Cadaval and Caldas da Rainha.
The detainee, having undergone an initial judicial hearing, will remain in preventive detention.
