Mossos d'Esquadra have taken a 58-year-old man into custody, accusing him of deliberately starting a wildfire in Carme, Anoia. The blaze began on July 6, burned more than 450 hectares and damaged several homes. It also forced 33,000 people to stay indoors as authorities mounted a large-scale emergency response.
The Tribunal Superior de Justicia de Cataluña (TSJC) said the suspect, who had no prior criminal record, was arrested on July 27 after a joint investigation by Mossos d'Esquadra and Agentes Rurales. Authorities believe he was responsible for the Carme fire and two other blazes in the area: one on June 29 and another in July 2024. The court ordered 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 partly burned cardboard fragments and a beer-can pack. The items raised suspicions of arson. Accounts from people who passed through the area before the fire, along with security-camera footage identifying vehicles at the scene, helped police identify the suspect. He was detained on Monday and transferred to preventive custody the following day under a judicial order.
Firefighters brought the Carme wildfire under control the day after it started, but its effects were impressive: thousands of residents were ordered to remain indoors as a precaution. The case has drawn attention to the risks of fires in Catalonia during summer, when dry conditions can accelerate their spread. Spanish authorities have also recently stepped up efforts to track down suspects in serious criminal cases. In Madrid, police apprehended a Colombian national wanted for murder, as detailed in this report on a high-profile arrest in the capital.
Wildfires remain a persistent threat in Spain, particularly in regions such as Catalonia, where rural and urban areas meet. High temperatures and drought, combined with human activity, can create dangerous conditions. Authorities have increased surveillance and public-awareness campaigns to prevent fires, while deliberate ignition remains a serious concern. Aggravated forest-fire offenses carry severe legal consequences because of the potential harm to communities and the environment. The investigation in Anoia involves police and forensic work aimed at addressing suspected arson and protecting vulnerable areas from future incidents.
