Expatica news

Arsonist confesses to starting 16 forest fires

31 January 2006

MADRID – A 46-year-old man in Santiago de Compostela has confessed to starting 16 forest fires deliberately during the course of the last decade.

The arsonist, whose identity has not yet been made public, is now in remand, announced the Viga police.

The man started the fires between 1996 and 2005, with the last being started on 19 August, last year, in Mondariz in Pontevedra.

It blazed for three days, destroying 356 hectares of pine and eucalyptus trees. Around 18 fire brigades were involved in tackling the flames.

Several nearby homes had to be evacuated. The fire was ranked as representing the “maximum risk” to lives and property.

[Copyright EFE with Expatica]

Subject: Spanish news