Fires in France: 474 People Detained for Starting Blazes Since Early July, Including 183 Minors

French authorities have apprehended 474 individuals for involvement in starting fires since the beginning of July, with a significant portion, 183, being minors. This crackdown comes amid a record-breaking fire season that has strained emergency services.

One notable case involves a 15-year-old minor who is under investigation for a fire in July that tragically resulted in the deaths of two firefighters in Mérignac, Gironde. The Interior Ministry's figures, compiled as of Thursday evening, highlight the widespread nature of the problem, with human behavior identified as the cause of nine out of ten fires.

Lightning is cited as the cause for the remaining 10% of blazes. Firefighter unions have expressed extreme concern over the relentless fire season, describing themselves as "at the end" of their resources. They met with Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez, demanding more resources. However, the unions reported feeling "very disappointed" with the meeting and have called for public mobilization at the end of September.

Currently, four departments are under the highest fire danger alert level, "danger feux": Mayenne, Deux-Sèvres, Indre-et-Loire, and Indre. An additional 57 departments are at the "elevated" level, one step below the maximum alert.