Licola, man burns brushwood and unleashes inferno at former NATO base: arrested

Pozzuoli – An attempt to burn some dry leaves and brushwood turned into a vast fire that devastated approximately 7 hectares of Mediterranean scrub, or over 70 square meters, an area equivalent to about ten football fields. The fire occurred in Licola, a hamlet of Pozzuoli, in the Via delle Colmate area, near the former NATO base.

For the fire the Carabinieri Police at the Licola station arrested a 52-year-old man, already known to the police, who is believed to be responsible for accidentally starting the fire.

The Carabinieri's lightning investigation

The investigation began immediately after the alarm was raised. The police quickly reconstructed the events and were able to identify the alleged perpetrator, tracking him down near his home, not far from the area affected by the flames.

During the investigations, the 52-year-old allegedly spontaneously handed over a lighter and an empty bottle of ethyl alcohol, items which were acquired by investigators.

According to the Carabinieri's reconstruction, the man set fire to some brush to clear the land, but then completely lost control of the flames, which were also fueled by the weather conditions and the particularly dry vegetation.

Some homes evacuated

The fire required a major firefighting effort, and for safety reasons, some homes in the area were evacuated until the emergency was over.

The toll is heavy: hectares of Mediterranean scrub destroyed and significant environmental damage to one of the most delicate natural areas of the Phlegraean Fields.

Under house arrest pending trial

Following the formal procedures, the 52-year-old was arrested by the Carabinieri and placed under house arrest, where he will remain at the disposal of the judicial authorities pending trial. The incident rekindles awareness of the risk of wildfires in Campania during the summer months and the importance of avoiding any practices that could spark fires in highly dangerous conditions.