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Date Published: 15/06/2022
ARCHIVED - Three people detained for starting the Malaga fire last week
The fire, which started as a result of reckless behaviour, has been stabilised but is not yet out
Police in Spain have taken statements from three people who were detained on suspicion of starting the forest fire in Sierra Bermeja, Malaga last week, which resulted in over 2,000 people having to be evacuated from their homes near Estepona and Marbella and three firefighters being injured.
An investigation has led police to conclude that the fire did not start by natural means, but was caused by reckless behaviour, most likely as a result of work being carried out with heavy machinery.
Sources close to the investigation say that a fourth person is expected to testify and that all the arrests were made in order to be able to take their statements before the Guardia Civil.
This is known as a “technical detention”, and after their appearance before police, they were all released and have not been detained in court.
According to the investigations by the environmental agents of the Forest Fire Investigation Brigade, the fire was caused by work with heavy machinery on the La Resinera estate “in circumstances that were inappropriate for the existing conditions” of fire risk.
The forest fire, which affected the Pujerra area near the town of Benhavís, which has now been stabilised but has not yet been totally extinguished. It has already affected some 3,500 hectares of land, and firefighters are still working to bring it under control by forming a fire-proof perimeter around the blaze.
Another fire affected the same area last September, devastating almost 10,000 hectares and also forcing many residents of various nearby municipalities to be evacuated. The source of that fire was also thought to be manmade, but the investigation continues to be active.
However, fire chiefs have stressed that it is “an extremely complex investigation, as it was an intentional fire in which the perpetrator took all kinds of precautions to avoid being discovered.”
Image: Agentes Medio Ambiente de Andalucía
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