“It is a human action” which is at the origin of the fire that has ravaged 165 acres of vegetation Thursday in a forest in Anglet, announced the prosecutor of Bayonne.
The fire that destroyed the 165 hectares of forest and vegetation on Thursday in a forest in the heart of the city in Anglet (Pyrénées-Atlantiques) is “of human origin”, according to initial findings of the investigation, said that Saturday the public prosecutor of Bayonne.
“there was no lightning or electrical wire that would have caused a spark,” said Caroline Parizel, vice-prosecutor of Bayonne. “It is, therefore, a human action, which means that there has been an intervention of the man, but it can be a cigarette butt, or a broken bottle that would have been magnifying effect.”
The initial findings techniques were conducted Saturday morning by investigators of the judicial police of Bayonne, in charge of the investigation, assisted by two teams of police science of Toulouse and Marseille, “specialists in forest fires”, the national Office of the forests and of the SDIS (Service departmental fire and rescue).
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The investigation has already determined a unique area of fire starting in the vicinity of the rugby stadium Orok Bat, in a sports complex surrounded by the forest of Chiberta. The investigation must now determine if the fire is or is not of criminal origin, with an upgrade to fire a volunteer.
open Survey
“there were blood samples to see if they can determine the cause,” said Caroline Parizel. “This is the most difficult according to the experts”, as to determine the origin voluntary, thus criminal, it is necessary to “find the trigger”, she explains.
A survey for “destruction by fire” was opened on Friday by the prosecutor of Bayonne, who recalled that “even in the absence of intentional character”, the destruction of the forest may constitute a crime punishable by up to 5 to 7 years of imprisonment. All the samples required for the investigation were completed Saturday morning, and the experts ‘ findings are expected in the coming days, according to the public prosecutor.
The fire spectacular of the forest of Chiberta, in a pine trees area of 270 hectares in the heart of city at Anglet, destroyed 165 acres of vegetation, and five houses in subdivisions adjacent to, without casualties. Twenty people passed through the hospital for problems of intoxication due to the smoke, but without gravity.
Saturday morning, the fire was completely controlled, but a twenty firefighters remained on site for a “job-surgical” on the last embers, and fumaroles, in order to prevent any further fire starting. “We will still be there all day and we are also planning the world the next night,” said Frédéric Tournaye, deputy director of the SDIS.
