A 58-year-old man has been jailed for allegedly starting a wildfire in Carme. The fire damaged over 450 hectares and forced 33,000 residents to stay indoors. Authorities suspect he is behind two other recent fires in the area.
A man aged 58 has been taken into custody by Mossos d'Esquadra, accused of deliberately igniting a wildfire in Carme, Anoia, that led to the confinement of 33,000 people and scorched more than 450 hectares. The incident, which occurred on July 6, also caused damage to several homes and prompted a large-scale emergency response across the region.
According to the Tribunal Superior de Justicia de Cataluña (TSJC), the suspect, who had no prior criminal record, was arrested on July 27 following a joint investigation by Mossos and Agentes Rurales. Authorities believe he is responsible not only for the Carme fire but also for two other recent blazes in the same area—one on June 29 and another in July 2024. The court has ordered his provisional imprisonment without bail, citing the severity of the aggravated forest fire charges.
Investigators traced the origin of the July 6 fire to the shoulder of the BV-2131 road in Carme, where they found partially burned cardboard fragments and a beer can pack. These clues led to the hypothesis of intentional arson. Testimonies from witnesses who passed through the area before the fire, combined with security camera footage that identified vehicles present at the scene, enabled police to pinpoint the suspect. He was detained on Monday and transferred to preventive custody the following day by judicial order.
The Carme wildfire was brought under control the day after it started, but its impact was significant, with thousands of residents forced to remain indoors as a precaution. The case highlights ongoing concerns about arson-related wildfires in Catalonia, especially during the summer months when dry conditions increase the risk of rapid fire spread. In a related context, Spanish authorities have recently intensified efforts to track down suspects in serious criminal cases, as seen when Madrid police apprehended a Colombian national wanted for murder, detailed in this report on a high-profile arrest in the capital.
Wildfires remain a persistent threat in Spain, particularly in regions like Catalonia where rural and urban areas intersect. The combination of high temperatures, drought, and human activity often creates dangerous conditions. In recent years, authorities have increased surveillance and public awareness campaigns to prevent such incidents, but deliberate acts of arson continue to pose a challenge. The legal consequences for aggravated forest fire offenses are severe, reflecting the potential for widespread harm to communities and the environment. The ongoing investigation in Anoia underscores the importance of rapid response and thorough forensic work in tackling arson cases and protecting vulnerable areas from future incidents.
