France has suffered its worst wildfire damage since World War Two this year. Climate change and the burning of fossil fuels are blamed as the main causes, but the government in Paris sees human causes as central. The French interior ministry said 420 people had already been arrested on suspicion of starting fires, deliberately or accidentally — 166 of them minors, according to the BBC.
According to the figures, nine of every 10 wildfires in France are caused by human hands. After more than 300,000 acres burned in wildfires this summer, the government has taken a tough line. In the Var region of the south-east, a 23-year-old was charged over 10 fires in just five days and could face 15 years in prison and a fine of 150,000 euros. In the Vosges region, a man was jailed for three years for setting three fires. In many cases, however, the country’s media and lawyers have questioned excessive police strictness.
Eric Dufayet, an official tasked with tracing the origin of wildfires, said that in the dry season a single lighter was enough to start a fire. Investigators work by finding where in a forest a fire began, and in cases of deliberate arson there is a chance of finding DNA or fingerprints. Experts say deliberate arson is rare; most fires start through carelessness, including construction work, faulty electrical equipment, cigarette butts and barbecue sparks. Michel Lejoyeux, professor of psychiatry at Paris 7 University, said those involved in setting fires fall mainly into three categories: the careless, the opportunistic, and pyromaniacs.
Amid criticism of the government’s preparedness and speed of response, French President Emmanuel Macron said now was not the time for criticism. He said France would have to recreate and rebuild forests differently to adapt to the structural situation of climate change, and that the people needed to stay united for now. But amid the extensive damage to the environment, tourism and local businesses, many questions remain in the minds of the French public.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report