A person has been investigated as the alleged perpetrator of a crime of forest fire due to serious recklessness after the fire registered on June 29 in a farmhouse in the municipality of Valderrobres. The flames burned about 5,000 square meters of forest mass, the equivalent of half a hectare.
According to the investigation carried out by the Seprona of the Guardia Civil de Alcañiz, the origin of the fire would have been located in the vicinity of a litter bin located next to the property. At that point, according to the procedures carried out, cigarette butts were usually deposited and there was also an accumulation of rubbish remains.
During the investigations, and after taking statements from severalwitnesses, the agents found that one of the people present at the farmhouse had left cigarette butts in that same place. Those cigarette butts could have caused the fire, which spread on a particularly delicate day due to the weather conditions.
ORANGE ALERT FOR FIRE RISK
The investigation also shows that on the day of the fire the territory was at orange alert level due to the risk of forest fires, a circumstance that significantly increased the chances of spread and made any negligent behaviour related to the abandonment of cigarette butts especially dangerous.
The proceedings have involved the Seprona of Alcañiz, the patrol of the Civil Guard of Valderrobres and the Nature Protection Agents of the Government of Aragon, who prepared the technical reports contrasted during the investigation. Both the proceedings and the person under investigation have been made available to the Civil and Instruction Section of the Court of Instance of Alcañiz.
The Civil Guard reminds us of the importance of taking extreme precautions during episodes of intense heat and avoiding any activity that could generate a fire. In addition, it has reinforced surveillance and investigation work in the face of the increased risk of forest fires caused by high temperatures.
