The 35 year old gardener who started the fire which swept along the Costa del Sol has been arrested.
The fire in Málaga destroyed 8,225 hectares, 7,155 of them forestry, and the man was arrested on Monday after an investigation which confirmed that a bonfire of vegetable remains had been carried on a finca in Coín.
Those taking part in the investigation were the Civil Guard’s Service to Protect the Environment, SEPRONA, the BIIF Brigade for the investigation of forest fines, and the Andalucía fire fighting organisation, Infoca.
The report says the man was negligent for burning the vegetable remains which led to the fire spreading to six municipalities in Málaga province. He was also negligent for lighting the fire in what were extreme weather conditions.
The fire obliged 6,500 people to leave their homes and hotels, one 54 year old German man died, and two other people were seriously injured.
100 properties were affected by the blaze, or which 20 were destroyed completely.
The man, who has not been named, was arrested in Alhaurin del Grande according to neighbours. He will soon be going to court.
