Arson suspects, including a firefighter from Ourém, have been apprehended by PJ since early August
A series of forest fires in Portugal have raised concerns about arson as the primary cause, with direct flame ignition being the suspected method. In the past month alone, ten men have been detained for allegedly causing 22 fires across the country.
On the first day of August, a 57-year-old man was detained for allegedly causing three forest fires in the freguesia of Vila Cha, Ponte da Barca, Viana do Castelo. No information was provided about any connection between this man and earlier suspects. Similarly, no additional charges or investigations were disclosed regarding the 57-year-old man in Ponte da Barca.
Another 48-year-old man was identified in the freguesia of Moreira, in the municipality of Maia. He is suspected of using direct flame and some papers to intensify a fire that spread rapidly. The man in Cinfães, a 25-year-old, is also suspected of using direct flame to start a fire, potentially due to revenge on a neighbor. No information was provided about any connection between the man in Cinfães and the earlier suspects.
In addition, a 31-year-old firefighter from the Ourem corporation was caught for four forest fire crimes in the municipality of Ourem in the months of June and July. He is suspected of using homemade delay devices to ignite the fires. No details were given about the method used by the man in Cinfães to start the fire.
The crime of forest fire carries a prison sentence of one to eight years in Portugal. If the crime endangers life or property, the sentence can be increased. However, criticism has been levied against Portugal’s penal system for the mild consequences often meted out in these cases.
Arson cases tend to produce the most destructive fires compared to accidental ignitions. According to recent studies, about 25% of wildfires in Portugal are confirmed arson cases, with direct flame ignition being the primary suspected method. Human motives for arson include insurance fraud, vandalism, and thrill-seeking.
While detailed scientific studies analyse spatial and seasonal fire patterns, they do not specify ignition methods beyond general categories of accidental vs. intentional. However, criminal investigations show that arsonists often use direct flame to start fires, confirmed in arrests including unusual cases such as a firefighter accused of igniting fires for profit.
In summary, the focus remains on direct flame as the dominant arson technique in Portugal. Arson cases have been concentrated unexpectedly in northern Portugal in 2025, with the northern districts (Porto, Braga, Viana do Castelo) experiencing unusually high counts of arson-related fires. It is crucial to increase awareness and enforcement to combat this growing issue and protect Portugal's forests.
[1] Portuguese Environment Agency [2] European Forest Fire Information System [3] Global Fire Monitoring Centre [4] Portuguese Judiciary
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