Four Arrested for Causing Forest Fires in Albania
Albanian police have announced the arrest of four individuals in the past 24 hours for starting fires, as soldiers and firefighters work to combat spreading forest blazes in coastal tourist areas. The fires were primarily started by farmers burning cultivated fields to clear debris before planting new crops. In July, 14 people were charged with starting wildfires in Albania.
Two farmers were arrested for causing a fire near the tourist village of Qeparo, which resulted in the burning of dozens of hectares of land and endangering homes and olive tree plantations. The police released drone footage showing officers pursuing and eventually apprehending one of the suspects. The Albanian army has deployed 40 soldiers equipped with shovels and water to assist local authorities in fighting the fires. Tourists, both local and foreign, have been witnessing the efforts to put out the fires, with an army helicopter collecting water from the Ionian Sea to pour on the blaze.
In addition to the arrests near Qeparo, two individuals in the eastern town of Elbasan were also arrested for burning their land, which spread to other areas. The police have appealed to citizens to refrain from lighting any fires, as it is a crime punishable by law. According to the Ministry of Defense, 95 fires have been reported in Albania in the first two weeks of August.
