A 23-year-old man from the Var has been charged and remanded in custody as part of the investigation into the fires that affected the the municipality of Pontevès and the surrounding area in late July. According to information provided by the public prosecutor for Draguignan, Pierre Couttenier, the individual admitted to having started around ten fires between 20 and 24 July.
Confessions and suspicions of arson
The young man, who was taken into police custody last week, is also suspected of being involved in two of the three instances of arson that occurred on 31 July. The Draguignan Public Prosecutor’s Office has opened criminal proceedings against him, whilst an investigation is under way to formally establish the extent of his liability. The prosecutor emphasised that these confessions will need to be corroborated by the ongoing investigation.
13 investigations have been opened, 11 of which were for offences caught in the act
In total, the Draguignan Public Prosecutor’s Office has launched 13 investigations into the fires in the department, 11 of which were carried out on the spot. Two of these cases have been referred to an investigating judge. Investigations are continuing to determine the causes and those responsible for these incidents, which have required the deployment of significant emergency resources, notably the Var Fire Brigade.
Forest fire crews, deployed as reinforcements, worked to contain the flames and protect residential areas. Their rapid response prevented the fires from spreading further, despite often adverse weather conditions.
The authorities have reiterated that investigations are continuing to establish the full circumstances surrounding these fires, some of which may have been started deliberately. Increased vigilance is still required in the department, where the risk of fire remains high during this summer period. Image generated using AI