The Judiciary Police (PJ) detained a 59-year-old man on suspicion of having started a forest fire in Salgueira, in the municipality of Viseu.

“The suspect, using a direct flame (lighter), set the fire in the forest, in an area with a vast forest, with vertical and horizontal continuity, bordering the urban area”, says the PJ in a press release, released today.

The police force states that the fire “would have had more serious proportions, if there had not been a quick intervention by the means of combat with several fire engines, a heli-team from the UEPS [Emergency Protection and Help Unit] of the GNR and an air vehicle”.

According to the document, the “59-year-old man, divorced”, is suspected “for the presumed commission of a crime of forest fire, which occurred on June 25, 2023, in the locality of Salgueiral, Union of parishes of Coutos de Viseu”.

"The suspect's actions endangered the physical integrity and lives of people, homes and the large forest area of ​​about 200 hectares", highlights the document.

In the press release sent to the Lusa agency, the Judiciary clarifies that the arrest was made through the Centre's board, with the collaboration of the Environmental Protection Nucleus of the GNR in Viseu and the Working Group for the Reduction of Ignitions in Rural Areas of Center.