Lorraine Williamson
A man has been arrested as the suspected person responsible for a series of fires reported across southern Algeciras over the past two days. Policía Local officers located the man near the affected area on Friday. According to Algeciras City Council, he was carrying several cigarette lighters, while his clothing was blackened and had remnants of vegetation attached to it.
The investigation will now determine what responsibility, if any, he bears for the fires. The authorities have stressed that the presumption of innocence applies.
Five fires reported across Algeciras on Thursday
The arrest follows an unusually intense period for emergency services in the city. Up to five fires were reported simultaneously in southern Algeciras on Thursday, affecting Río Pícaro, Parque El Centenario, Rosa de los Vientos and the area around the hospital, as well as a forest fire at Las Pantallas.
Further incidents followed overnight. Algeciras City Council reported two fires at the Metalsa warehouses and another smaller incident early on Friday morning in Calle Félix Rodríguez.
The original Las Pantallas forest fire, which began at around 3.30 pm on Thursday, had been brought under control about five hours later. INFOCA declared it extinguished at 9.25 am on Friday.
Fourteen forest firefighters, an operations technician and a fire engine had worked on that blaze, supported from the air by two medium-heavy helicopters and two light amphibious aircraft.
New fire sends INFOCA back to Las Pantallas
However, the respite was short-lived.
A new forest fire broke out on Friday between the La Aldea residential development and Las Pantallas. Algeciras City Council said this was a different fire from Thursday’s blaze, rather than the earlier fire simply restarting.
INFOCA mobilised three groups of forest firefighters, two operations technicians and an environmental officer. Two medium-heavy helicopters, including one from Spain’s Ministry for Ecological Transition, and a command aircraft were also sent to the scene.
Algeciras mayor José Ignacio Landaluce praised the work and coordination of the emergency services following the arrest, including Policía Local, Policía Nacional, firefighters, INFOCA and Protección Civil.
Investigators must now establish whether the detained man can be linked to the individual fires reported across the city.