76-year-old arsonist arrested in the act after setting fire to village land in Memaliaj

A 76-year-old man has been arrested by police in Memaliaj after allegedly setting fire to several plots of land in the village of Vasjar.

The 76-year-old, a resident of Vasjar, was caught in the act yesterday evening near the fire sites, police said.

Preliminary investigations suggest the 76-year-old had set the fires on plots of land he had rented, as well as on a state-owned plot at a place called “Gropa e Dardhës,” in order to clear them.

As the flames spread, around 4,000 square meters of land burned, including forests, pastures and land with various vegetation. Police said the 76-year-old had been arrested before for the same crime.

After the arrest, the procedural materials were referred to the Prosecution for further action. Gjirokastër Police appealed to citizens to avoid any action that could cause fires, especially burning waste or using fire to clear land, as flames can spread uncontrollably and cause serious damage.