A firefighter in the south of France is responsible for a series of forest fires in the region that he started on an adrenaline rush, according to French authorities.
The man, a volunteer firefighter from the Herault region, was arrested on Wednesday, regional prosecutors said.
The case of the man dubbed the “arsonist fireman” by French media has sparked widespread interest in France, which was rocked by a series of wildfires during last week’s heat wave that forced the evacuation of thousands of people
Montpellier prosecutor Fabrice Belargent said in a statement that the man had admitted to starting fires with a lighter on May 26, July 21 and most recently on the night of July 26-27.
“When asked about his motive, he stated that he had done it to provoke an intervention by the fire department to save him from an oppressive family environment and because of the emotion these interventions caused him,” said Belargent.
“Adrenaline called it, those are his own words,” the prosecutor said. “He also said he needed social recognition.”
The man, aged in his 30s but who has not been named, works full-time as a forester, with fire prevention one of his main responsibilities.
His lawyer, Marie Bar, told BFM TV that under questioning the man had “expressed very strong regret and above all a strong feeling of shame”.
She confirmed that the investigating judge had remanded him in prison before the trial.
“He apologized to the … firefighters he works with, as he calls them his big family. He is a person who is very dedicated to his work,” he said.
“It’s hard for him to explain. In a way he’s relieved to have been arrested. He explains it as an addiction.”
If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison and a fine of €150,000 (£125,000).
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“It is disgusting to have within the organization this type of individual,” former fire colonel Ludovic Pinganaud told BFM, adding that of the 200,000 volunteer firefighters in France there were only “a sick few” addicted to fires.