A 37-year-old man is under investigation as a suspect for the fire caused in Polopos earlier this month. He is likely to face a charge of gross negligence.
Archive: Polopos Fire 08/2020
The fire broke out on the 10th of March in an area of the municipality of Polopos known as the Cástaras Ravine of Haza del Trigoconsuming around a hectar of mountain shrub.
The environmental department of the Guardia Civil, sepronawhich were tasked with the investigation, traced the point of ignition; exactly where it started, to a piece of land where the owner had built a bonfire to burn cuttings from a fig tree.
The gusting wind at the time spread sparks and embers to nearby mountain shrub which quickly ignited and spread across the open land rapidly. The farmer tried in vain to stop it spreading.
As the farmer had not taken the necessary precautions before lighting a fire (not to mention lighting one in strong, gusting winds) he is liable to face a hefty fine, as well as damages and the cost of mobilising fire-fighting personnel and aircraft to put it out.
(News: Polopos, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)