Man arrested for arson with three fire sites in Tiana and Montgat: 16,000 confined
A man was arrested on Friday as a suspected arsonist after causing a fire with three simultaneous sites between Tiana and Montgat that forced 16,000 people to be confined.
Arrest for arson in Tiana: three fire sites and 16,000 people confined
A man was detained this Friday as the suspected perpetrator of a forest fire deliberately started between the municipalities of Tiana and Montgat, in Barcelona, according to reports. The Mossos d'Esquadra arrested him in the vicinity of where the fire began, with three simultaneous fire sites active.
Interior Councillor of the Generalitat, Núria Parlon, announced the arrest during a press conference held at midday at Palau de la Generalitat. "There were witnesses who were able to see that he was causing the fires," Parlon declared, confirming that police have opened an investigation into the detainee's connection to the origin of the fire.
The fire started around 10:45 hours in the area of the Tiana scrapyard, on a hillside between that municipality and Montgat, very close to Badalona. The fire service responded with 16 ground units and 6 aerial units, deployed across a working area of approximately 60 hectares. The B-500 road between Badalona and Mollet del Vallès was closed in both directions.
Given the extent and speed of the fire, the Generalitat ordered the confinement of Sant Fost de Campsentelles, Martorelles, Santa Maria de Martorelles, Tiana, the Colònia Bosc residential area and Alberg la Conreria. The measure affected a total of approximately 16,000 people and was visible from wide areas of the Barcelona metropolitan region.
A few hours later, around 17:00, Parlon announced the fire was stabilised. The flames had burnt approximately 48 hectares before being brought under control. The proximity of the fire to several populated areas and the fact that it was allegedly deliberately started intensified the impact of what occurred.
Source: Google News ES — Crime (es)