73-year-old man detained over forest fire in Sever do Vouga
The Judicial Police of Aveiro has detained a 73-year-old man suspected of starting a forest fire on Monday in Sever do Vouga.
73-year-old suspect detained by Aveiro Judicial Police after scrubland fire
The Judicial Police of Aveiro has detained, outside of flagrante delicto, a 73-year-old man suspected of starting a forest fire in Sever do Vouga, in Aveiro district. The case was made public on Tuesday by the criminal investigation authority, according to reporting by Correio da Manhã.
The fire broke out in the early afternoon on Monday in the vicinity of the Ecopista and the former CP railway station at Paradela do Vouga, in the municipality of Sever do Vouga. The suspect is believed to have used direct flame in a scrubland area close to an extensive forest patch, with several industrial facilities and homes nearby.
The fire did not reach large proportions thanks to the swift intervention of members of the public and firefighters, who detected it and fought it immediately, according to a statement from the Judicial Police.
The investigation revealed that in recent years, several other fires with suspected origins have been fought in the same area. The Judicial Police indicated that it was not possible to determine any rational motive or plausible explanation for the facts under investigation, adding that the suspect demonstrates "a marked propensity for incendiary behaviour, despite the serious weather conditions existing and all public alerts issued".
The detention was carried out with the collaboration of the Environmental Protection Unit of the GNR in Águeda. The suspect will be presented to the judicial authorities in Aveiro district for initial judicial questioning and the application of restraint measures deemed appropriate.
Source: Correio da Manhã