A 35-year-old Israeli national was arrested by Fire Service investigators on the island of Crete Saturday for inadvertently starting a wildfire Friday evening.
The man was barbecuing while there was a warning about a very high risk of wildfires. The fire broke out at 7:11 p.m. Friday in the municipality of Agios Vassilios, in the regional unit of Rethymno. It did not spread widely and was put under control about four hours later.
The arrested man will face an examining magistrate and a prosecutor who will decide whether to press charges and, if so, to remand him or conditionally release him.
Since January 1 and up to Saturday, 297 persons have been arrested for starting a fire, 267 inadvertently and 30 on purpose (arson). Total fines assessed have totaled €1,136,593.21.
