He set a fire to burn waste, the flames spread and burned olive groves, 33-year-old arrested in Mallakastër

A 33-year-old has been arrested in flagrante by the Mallakastër Police, after he allegedly set a fire to burn waste on his land, but the flames spread to other areas because of strong winds.

The incident happened yesterday in the village of Mollaj, while the arrested man is citizen D. K., 33, a resident of Ballsh.

According to the Police, preliminary investigations suggest that the 33-year-old had set a fire to burn waste on his property. Because of the weather conditions and strong winds, the flames spread to the surrounding land.

As a result, damage was caused to areas planted with olive trees, while the fire also engulfed the roof of a house.

To extinguish the flames, the services of the Mallakastër Police Commissariat and the firefighters were engaged, and they managed to localise and put out the fire hotspots. According to the authorities, no one was injured.

The 33-year-old has been arrested for the criminal offence of “Destruction of property by fire”, while the procedural materials have been referred to the Prosecution for further action.

Following the incident, the Fier Police have appealed to citizens to show maximum care and avoid any action that could cause fires, especially in periods when the wind favours the rapid spread of flames. The police particularly call on residents not to burn agricultural waste or clear land through burning, as such an action can lead to an uncontrolled spread of fires.