Over 120 arrested in France for starting forest fires amid record season

French security forces have arrested 128 people suspected of intentionally starting forest fires this year, as the country grapples with a devastating and record-breaking fire season. The blazes have consumed 44,000 hectares of land nationwide.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced the arrest figures during a visit to Mérignac, in the Gironde region, an area affected by active fires. The visit followed the recent deaths of two firefighters battling the flames, highlighting the extreme danger faced by emergency personnel.

Nuñez described France's current situation as "extremely complicated." He noted that 12,500 fire outbreaks have been recorded this year. While initial investigations suggest some fires were deliberately set, the minister cautioned that definitive proof is still pending. The ongoing crisis underscores the severe challenges France faces in managing wildfires, particularly during periods of intense heat and drought.