The Civil Guard has arrested one person and is investigating another as perpetrators of the Burgohondo (Ávila) forest fire, as reported by the Armed Institute.
The cause of the fire in the town of Ávila was gross negligence due to the use of heavy machinery in the area, where it was totally prohibited according to the regulations whose compliance is usually monitored by Seprona.
The two investigated persons, one of whom has been arrested, caused sparks when using this machinery.
The investigation, which is being led by Seprona of the province of Ávila, has determined that the origin of the fire was a spark derived from that machinery.
During the ocular inspection of the area and after carrying out the technical report of causes, in collaboration with the Forest Fire Investigation Brigade (BIIF) of the Junta de Castilla y León, clear signs of heavy machinery activity were observed, according to the Civil Guard.
These works were being carried out on days when the Junta de Castilla y León had decreed the prohibition of using this type of machinery, whose operation can precisely generate fire in the mountains.
In addition to that, the two investigated lacked administrative authorization for these works, failing to comply with the order that regulates the extinguishing means that machinery whose operation could cause sparks must carry.
The two defendants were carrying out the work in the area and are therefore attributed a presumed crime of forest fire, as well as another presumed crime against natural resources and the environment.
The forest fire started in Burgohondo (Ávila) has already burned more than 9,000 hectares and is currently declared a National Interest emergency.
