Thessaloniki: 70-year-old jailed for fire started while chasing wasps

A 70-year-old man in Thessaloniki has been sentenced to three years in prison, suspended, after a fire he started to drive away wasps caused devastating damage to two businesses. The court found him guilty of negligent arson.

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I wanted to clean the chicken coop and saw a wasp nest in a net. I lit a piece of paper to drive away the wasps, but it fell and caused the fire. I tried to put it out, but I couldn't control it.

The incident began when the man lit paper in his field to deal with a wasp nest. The fire quickly spread, consuming dry grass and debris before engulfing two neighboring commercial properties. The owner of the first business reported a total loss of 400,000 euros, stating his entire stock of plumbing supplies, tools, and irrigation hoses was destroyed.

The second business suffered even greater losses, with the owner estimating damages exceeding 1 million euros. His facility, including offices, computers, and sanitary ware inventory, was completely ruined. The owner recounted realizing the fire by the smell of smoke and immediately ordering an evacuation.

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My business was completely destroyed, as were all the merchandise, consisting of plumbing items, tools, and irrigation hoses.

Appearing remorseful, the accused apologized to those affected and took full responsibility. He explained that he lit the paper near a wasp nest in a chicken coop, and it fell, igniting the fire. Despite his attempts to extinguish it, he could not control the spread. His defense argued that the field had been cleared of dry grass prior to the incident. He has appealed the sentence and was released, also facing a 5,886.56 euro administrative fine from the Fire Service.

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The facilities, offices, computers, and merchandise with sanitary ware were completely destroyed.