In Chile, a firefighter and a forestry official have been arrested on suspicion of starting a fire in February that killed 137 people in the resort city of Vina del Mar. The arrests were made after an investigation by authorities, with the firefighter believed to have been involved in starting the blaze. The inferno was devastating and the second deadliest in the world this century, fueled by windy conditions and a heatwave that raised temperatures to about 40 degrees Celsius. The arrested firefighter is a 22-year-old volunteer who had been with the force for a year and a half.
The investigation into the fire was extensive, with detectives reconstructing the actions of the arrested firefighter before, during, and after the blaze. It was determined that several small simultaneous blazes near Lake Penuelas in Valparaiso were the starting points of the fire. The materials used to start the fire were found in the house of one of the suspects, leading to suspicions of arson. The involvement of a second person, believed to be the mastermind behind the attack, was also uncovered by investigators.
Authorities in Chile are treating the fire as an intentional attack, with the mayor of Vina del Mar stating that there is a high degree of certainty regarding this belief. The justice minister called the arrests an act of justice and reparation for the victims and their families who lost their lives, property, and sources of work due to the fire. The motive for the arson, however, remains unclear. The arrested firefighter and forestry official are facing charges of arson resulting in deaths, and they will be remanded in custody to face trial for their alleged roles in starting the devastating blaze.
The arrested firefighter was a part of the volunteer force that served Valparaiso for more than 170 years, and the incident has left the community devastated. The commander of the 13th Fire Company in Valparaiso expressed shock and disbelief at what had happened, emphasizing that it was a rare and isolated incident that does not reflect the values of the firefighting community. The investigation revealed that the mastermind behind the arson provided the firefighter with the knowledge and materials necessary to start the fire, dictating the exact times of operation to ensure maximum damage.
Authorities are also looking into potential links between the fire in Vina del Mar and other arson incidents in the region. The investigation uncovered a deliberate plan to start the fires at specific locations to cause maximum destruction. The prosecutor’s office and environmental crime investigation authority worked together to gather evidence and build a case against the suspects. As the investigation continues, the community grapples with the shock and grief caused by the fire, and the arrests are seen as a step towards justice for those who lost their lives and livelihoods in the tragedy.
