Hundreds of people have been arrested in France after being accused of deliberately or accidentally starting fires, as the country faces its most extensive wildfire damage since World War II.
France’s Interior Ministry said 420 people had been arrested in connection with the fires, including 166 minors. Authorities have not provided details on the specific charges or whether those arrested were accused of intentionally setting fires.
According to a report by the BBC, wildfires have already burned more than 300,000 acres across France. Approximately nine out of 10 wildfires in the country are caused by human activity. Experts, however, believe most are not the result of arson but begin accidentally, including from sparks created by construction work, faulty electrical equipment, or even cigarette butts and barbecues.
One man arrested, a 23-year-old accused of intentionally starting 10 fires over the course of five days last month, is now facing 15 years in prison. Another man received a three-year jail sentence for starting three fires in the Raon-L'Étape forest.
"I was amazed at the number of arrests, it feels excessive," said lawyer Muriel Gestas, who has represented several individuals accused of arson.
However, some have defended the crackdown. Bordeaux prosecutor Renaud Gaudeul told the French outlet Le Monde, "The conditions for a charge of endangering lives are met for those who throw a cigarette butt or light a barbecue in wooded areas. It only takes a tiny spark for it to start.”
Wildfire concerns continue to rise as a heatwave is forecasted in the coming days. President Emmanuel Macron addressed the situation, saying, "We will have to replant and rebuild a different kind of forest because we must adapt to the structural conditions of climate change.”
"The time for reviewing lessons learned will come," Macron said. "In the meantime, the country must remain united."
