A man has been arrested on suspicion of deliberately starting the bush fire that broke out this afternoon on Rua Cônego Doutor Jorge de Freitas, beside the slope of the New Cemetery in Caniço.
The arrest was confirmed to DIÁRIO by Paulo Renato Baptista, coordinator of the Municipal Civil Protection Service of Santa Cruz.
According to Baptista, vegetation clearance was being carried out by a contractor working on behalf of Santa Cruz Municipality as part of an ongoing programme to firebreaks alongside the municipal road network, helping to reduce the risk of wildfires.
He said a man approached the work site and, referring to what he described as family conflicts, allegedly told workers that “there was no need to clear the land because it was going to catch fire.” Moments later, he is alleged to have started the blaze.
Workers from the contracting company reportedly chased the suspect across a nearby vacant plot before restraining him until officers from the Public Security Police (PSP) arrived. The suspect was subsequently arrested and is expected to be brought before the judicial authorities.
In a statement posted on social media, Santa Cruz Municipality confirmed that a suspect had been detained in connection with the incident.
Firefighting efforts involved 31 personnel supported by seven fire engines, a heavy support machine and the Civil Protection’s H-35 helicopter. Officers from the PSP and members of the Municipal Civil Protection Service also assisted at the scene.
Authorities have not yet released further details regarding the suspect or the circumstances surrounding the alleged incident, and investigations are continuing.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
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