A 39-year-old Finnish man has been arrested and taken before magistrates over two fires that flared up in Monchique over the weekend.
According to reports, “there are strong indications” that the man set fire to areas of scrubland on Friday night and again during the day on Sunday.
PJ police have stressed that the only reason the fires did not develop was because of “prompt intervention by local people and firefighters who were in the area dealing with another blaze of a totally different origin” (click here).
The man is believed to have lived in the area with family members for some years. He is described as receiving an invalidity pension.
Says Correio da Manhã, he was arrested in possession of a lighter which police believe he used to start both fires.
Suspicions were raised after the man was seen “moments before” one of the fires began.
Portimão court however have allowed him home, on the basis that he reports twice-weekly to police.
