A 33-year-old civil protection volunteer has been arrested in connection with a series of wildfires in the Gargano area, according to RaiNews. The man is accused of setting eight fires, la Repubblica reports. ANSA reports that he was caught on video as he started one of the blazes.
The arrest was announced on Sunday, 13 September 2026, according to RaiNews. Il Fatto Quotidiano also reports the arrest of a civil protection volunteer over the eight Gargano fires.
The reports describe the suspect as a volunteer with Italy's civil protection service, the body that helps respond to emergencies including wildfires. The Gargano is a mountainous peninsula in the Puglia region, known for its forested interior and coastal areas.
The local outlet Rete Gargano published a statement from Pegaso Vieste responding to the news that had circulated in the preceding hours. The statement did not dispute the reports; it addressed the coverage itself, according to the headline carried by Rete Gargano.
The available reporting does not include the suspect's name, the specific locations of the individual fires, the extent of the damage, or details of the evidence beyond the video cited by ANSA. It also does not indicate whether the man has responded to the allegations or whether he has legal representation.
What to watch next: whether prosecutors in Puglia release further details of the case, including the charges filed and the outcome of any custody hearing.
