A woman received a suspended sentence for setting two wildfires in Greece for an unusual reason. The 44-year-old ignited the fires to interact with the firefighters responding to the blazes.
Reports indicate she tried to start multiple fires, leading to two wildfires. The Tripoli resident now faces a suspended 36-month prison term and a €1,000 (approximately $1,106) fine.
The fire department confirmed her arrest, stating, she was “arrested today, August 26, 2024, by investigating officers of the Police Department of Tripoli.”
The statement continued, “A Greek citizen, responsible for causing two fires on farmland, intentionally and repeatedly (on August 24th and 25th), in the area of Kerasitsa, in the Municipality of Tripoli in Arcadia.”
Woman Sets Fires in Greece’s Tripoli to Watch Firefighters and Flirt https://t.co/NVjcqeg21Y
— Greek Reporter (@GreekReporter) August 28, 2024
Her motive was to engage with firefighters. Reports from Greece’s Skai TV indicated she set the fires to meet men in uniform. Her presence at both fire sites aroused the officers’ suspicion.
Her three-year prison sentence is suspended, meaning she won’t be imprisoned immediately. However, if convicted of another crime within a specified period, the suspended sentence will be added to any new sentence.
Both fires were confined to small plots of land and were quickly controlled by the fire department.
Wildfires are a significant concern in Greece, especially during August 2024. Some fires nearly reached Athens’ outskirts. A 36-year-old volunteer described the scene as ‘like hell,’ stating, “We don’t have the resources to beat those conditions.”
Thousands had to evacuate as fires ravaged forests, farmland, and homes. The cause of the fires remains under investigation.
Successive droughts and unusually hot heatwaves have made large areas of Greece particularly susceptible to wildfires. Dry conditions mean fires can spread quickly, leading to evacuations and property loss.
What Other Media Are Saying
- tovima.com reports on a Greek woman, 44, who set fires to flirt with firefighters, receiving a 3-year suspended sentence and serving 2 months in prison.(read more)
- Global News reports a 28-year-old woman was arrested for intentionally setting fires in woods near Sooke, British Columbia, causing significant concern due to dry weather conditions.(read more)
- San Francisco Chronicle reports on the Pay Fire in El Dorado County, which started on Paydirt Drive near Placerville, covering 77 acres and 5% contained as of Sunday morning, with evacuation orders issued for the surrounding areas.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
Why did the woman set the wildfires in Greece?
She set the fires to speak to and flirt with firefighters.
What was the woman’s sentence for setting the wildfires?
She received a suspended 36-month prison sentence and a €1,000 fine.
How did the authorities catch the woman who set the fires?
Her presence at both fires drew the suspicion of attending firefighters.
What was the impact of the fires set by the woman in Greece?
The fires affected small plots of land and were quickly controlled.
What challenges does Greece face with wildfires?
Successive droughts, heatwaves, and dry vegetation make Greece vulnerable to rapid fire spread.
