Three arrested over Kefalonia and Boeotia wildfires as investigations continue

Greek authorities have arrested three individuals in connection with recent wildfires on the islands of Kefalonia and in Boeotia. In Kefalonia, one person was arrested for arson as a fire continued to rage, requiring reinforcements and aerial water drops.

Meanwhile, two people were arrested for a large fire in Boeotia that extended into Attica. The Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection stated that the fire originated from a fault in a private network transmitting electricity from wind turbines. Arcing from the power lines ignited the dry ground, leading to the blaze.

Investigators, including a judicial expert and an electrical engineer, focused on those responsible for the design, construction, and operation of the faulty private network. The two arrested individuals, an electrical engineer who signed off on the project and a contractor, face charges of arson with potential intent. The owner of the wind turbine company is also being sought.

Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fires, examining technical evidence, witness accounts, and video footage to assign further criminal responsibility. The Boeotia fire alone devastated over 65,000 acres, causing immense ecological damage.

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From the combined assessment of the findings, it emerged that in the private network for the transmission of electrical energy produced by wind turbines to the central electricity grid, there was a oscillation of the conductors, which caused sparking. The sparks fell to the ground, causing the start of the fire, which took on large dimensions and spread from Boeotia to Attica.