The Judicial Police (PJ) announced on  20th August that they  had arrested a man of 40 years, suspected of having caused “at least” five forest fires in Vieira do Minho, Braga.

The suspected arsonist, with alcohol problems, set light to the forests at night and dawn close to residential areas and hard to reach places, using it matches and gasoline, said PJ said in a statement.

The PJ stressed that the suspect acted with “feelings of revenge”, the areas burned being mainly pine and eucalyptus trees amounting to around the two dozen hectares.

The fires were dealt with using different resources including air support thus preventing the fires causing greater damage, since this is an area of ​​lush vegetation and continuity of forest, with nearby houses,” he said.

The fires had caused “substantial” property damage, according to the PJ.

The alleged arsonist, held by the Criminal Investigation Department of Braga, will be brought before judicial interrogation to apply enforcement measures.

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