“That 13th was me, not others”: Man confesses responsibility for fire that caused damage of 4 million euros

This Tuesday, a man confessed to starting a fire in Oliveira de Azemeis, Aveiro district, causing four million euros in damage, but denied involvement in the four other fires he is also accused of.

“I had a fire on the 13th, not others,” said the 39-year-old defendant, who began trial this morning in the court of Santa Maria da Feira in a case in which he is responsible for five forest fires . crimes committed in July 2022.

The fire, which the defendant claims started on July 13, 2022, started in Oliveira de Azemeis and spread to the municipalities of Estarreja and Albergaria, destroying more than 2,800 hectares and causing more than four million euros in damage.

In front of a panel of judges, the defendant explained that he made a “bunch of leaves” and lit the fire with a lighter. “I was only fired once and I regret it,” he said.

The fire that broke out around 13:00 on July 13 in the town of Señora da Ribeira, in the parish of Pinheiro da Bemposta, in Oliveira de Azemeis, was fought by more than 450 operatives using various aircraft, it was indicated that it dominated by 20 :00 14 July.

Four days later, the defendant was detained by the Judicial Police (JP) with the assistance of the Rural Fire Control Working Group — Northern Zone.

At the same time, the JV referred to the fact that the fire that occurred on the 13th could have been caused by the use of fuses made by the author in places with large areas of forest, still threatening settlements and various infrastructure, having consumed a significant area of ​​​​about 2500 acres.

The fire destroyed a “small family sawmill”, a pellet business, as well as its warehouse and vacant house.

Motorways A1, A29, A25 and additional route 2 (IC2) were closed for several hours.

In addition to this fire, the defendant is accused of starting four other small fires that occurred in the same month also in the municipality of Oliveira de Azemeis.