Arrests have been conducted in Greece in relation to wildfires as the country continues to be ravaged by flames, with authorities reporting human negligence as a chief factor.
The Fire Service reported they had made three arrests for people allegedly causing wildfires through negligence on Wednesday 10 June.
The arrests were carried out by investigative units of the Hellenic Fire Service in Evia, Rhodope and Boeotia following separate incidents involving outdoor work that led to the outbreak of fires.
Authorities have stated that a large number of blazes have been caused by human negligence, warning people to exercise extreme caution during wildfire prevention season while this week is expected to see temperatures and winds rise again.
Fires have been linked to instances of outdoor work, with the Fire Service noting that even a single spark can trigger fires with serious consequences.
In the area of Agia Skepi near Paralia Avlidas, part of the municipality of Chalkida in Evia, a 59-year-old man caused a fire while clearing dry grass with a gasoline-powered brush cutter.
The fire burned approximately 70 square meters of dry vegetation. The man was arrested under the fast-track procedure and received an administrative fine of €2,320.30.
In Aetokoryfi, in the municipality of Sapes in Rhodope, a 50-year-old man caused a fire while carrying out agricultural work with machinery, which ravaged six hectares of agricultural land. He was also arrested under the same procedure.
A third case was recorded on the regional road connecting Livadeia and Arachova in Boeotia, where a 39-year-old man allegedly started a fire while carrying out hot work with a cutting tool without taking the required fire safety measures.
He was arrested and fined €2,668.35.
Greece has had 2880 recorded fires from the beginning of the year up until 6 June, with that number having likely increased in the last week.
Kostas Tsigas, president of the Union of Fire Service Officers, stated 15 percent of fires involve deliberate arson, with the remainder attributed to negligence.
Tsigas said that dozens of arrests for arson have been made since January and that hundreds of administrative fines have been issued.
“It is a shame that these events occur when they can be avoided,” he said.
The Fire Service reported that authorities have issued 411 administrative fines amounting to €405,895.07 form the beginning of the year up until 10 June, while 81 people have been arrested through the fast-track process for violations of fire protection regulations.
