A Thessaloniki court has sentenced a 70-year-old man to three years in prison, suspended pending appeal, after he accidentally started a wildfire while trying to burn out a wasp nest, causing an estimated €1.4 million in damage.
The court convicted him of negligent arson over the blaze, which broke out last Thursday in Kalochori, west of Thessaloniki, and recognized no mitigating circumstances. He also faces an administrative fine of nearly €5,900 imposed by the fire service.
The fire began in the defendant’s field, where it spread from burning waste and dry grass to two neighboring businesses, destroying their premises.
One business owner told the court he suffered losses of about €400,000 after his plumbing supplies, tools and irrigation equipment were destroyed. The owner of the second business estimated damages at more than €1 million, saying the fire destroyed offices, computers and stock.
The defendant accepted responsibility and apologized.
