The fire of an exceptional magnitude which left one dead and two seriously injured in the south of France “could have a criminal cause resulting from a voluntary act,” said the magistrate responsible for the investigation of the disaster on Wednesday.
With its calcined landscapes as far as the eye can see, the fire, which traveled 16,000 hectares of garrigue, conifers and cultures in 48 hours, of which 13,000 were burned, was mastered on Sunday, but is not yet extinguished, according to the prefecture.
As the investigations continues, continues the magistrate in a press release, “it appeared that this fire had an anthropogenic origin (human, editor’s note), any natural cause being excluded”.
In addition, “experts believe that in view of the starting conditions of the fire, he could have a criminal cause resulting from a voluntary act. However, this first expertise necessarily requires being confirmed by numerous additional investigations whose duration can be important, ”he adds.
