Arsonist in France a fireman seeking ‘social recognition’

A FRENCH fireman has confessed to deliberately starting several fires in south-western France this week because he was in search of “adrenaline” and “social recognition”.

France, like other European countries, has been hard hit by forest fires owing to the heatwave.

Over the past fortnight, two huge fires near Bordeaux in the south-west caused more than 20,000 hectares (49,000 acres) of forest – twice the surface area of Paris – to go up in flames, requiring about 2,000 firefighters to bring them under control. About 34,000 people evacuated.

A string of fires has also erupted north of the city of Montpellier in the south of France. On Wednesday, police arrested an unnamed 37-year-old local volunteer fireman.

During questioning, he “admitted to starting by using a lighter, a fire spotted on May 26 in Saint-privat, another on July 21 in Saint-jean-de-la-blaquière and four others in the night of July 26 to 27 in the same town”, said Fabrice Bélargent, the local prosecutor.

The suspect, who is a forest firefighter as well as a volunteer fireman for the local town, confessed to “starting several fires over the past three years” around Saint-jean-de-la-blaquière, where he lives and sits on the municipal council.

The prosecutor said “adrenaline” motivated him to start fires.

“He also argued that he was in need of social recognition,” he said.

The fireman faces charges of destroying forests, scrub and plantations belonging to others at the risk of causing bodily harm, which are punishable by a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison and a €150,000 (£126,000) fine.

‘A lot of arsonists, their motive is based on a lot of anger and frustration ... or to get rid of stress’

He has been remanded in custody. According to French police, ten per cent of the 300,000 fires each year in France are deliberately started. Police suspect arson behind one of the huge blazes in the Bordeaux area this month.

While they say only a small percentage are started by firemen, at least 100 firefighter arsonists are convicted in North America every year.

Edward Nordskog, a California-based arson expert, told CBC. “A lot of arsonists, their motive is based on a lot of anger and frustration ... or to get rid of stress’ he said.