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Diario Euskadi

Two Individuals Under Investigation for Causing Forest Fire in Ea

A 51-year-old woman and a 19-year-old man are accused of starting the blaze while burning copper, affecting 2.7 hectares.

Image of charred earth after a forest fire in Ea, with the sea in the background.
IA

Image of charred earth after a forest fire in Ea, with the sea in the background.

The Ertzaintza is investigating two individuals for allegedly causing a forest fire in the municipality of Ea while burning copper. The blaze affected 2.7 hectares of scrubland and required the intervention of emergency services.

The Ertzaintza has initiated proceedings against a 51-year-old woman and a 19-year-old man, accused of starting a forest fire in the coastal municipality of Ea. The fire, which reportedly began as they were burning copper, scorched 2.7 hectares of low-lying scrub. The suspects, believed by some sources to be mother and son, were located and identified by forest rangers at the scene.
The incident occurred minutes before noon this Thursday, following a report from a private citizen. According to the Security Department of the Basque Government, initial information indicated a fire between the coastal rocks of Ea and an area of scrubland that began to spread uphill towards the Natxitua neighborhood.
Several patrols from the Gernika Ertzain-etxea, along with resources from Bizkaia Firefighters and forest detachments, were dispatched to the location. Additionally, technical personnel from the Basque Government's Emergency Services mobilized a helicopter to assist in the firefighting efforts.
Thanks to citizen collaboration, the Ertzaintza learned of the possible deliberate origin of the fire. It is suspected that two individuals, a man and a woman, arrived at the scene in a vehicle with the intention of burning a quantity of cable to extract copper metal. Apparently, the alleged perpetrators were unable to control the burning, which then spread to the forest land.
A forest ranger located one of the alleged individuals, a 19-year-old Spanish national, who was identified by the Ertzaintza. He was carrying a backpack with evidence and tools for cutting cable and had soot on him. Subsequently, extinction teams also located the 51-year-old woman, also a Spanish national, who was transported in an all-terrain vehicle to a meeting point with the Ertzaintza. Agents also found the car allegedly used by the two individuals in a parking lot, and other evidence near the fire's origin, which forms part of the ongoing investigation. The opened proceedings include alleged crimes of reckless arson, an environmental offense, and cable theft.

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