255 arrested for forest fires in 2026 as burned area drops 72%

During the presentation of the 2026 DECIR wildfire fighting balance, ANEPC reported 255 arrests for suspected arson this year, with 31 suspects held in pre-trial detention and four under house arrest. Authorities recorded 8,573 fires consuming 74,560 hectares—a 72% decrease in burned area compared to 2025, though the total number of fires rose by nearly 6%, the first increase since 2022. Officials noted that 94% of fires were contained in the initial attack phase, and three firefighters died during the year, two of them during combat operations.