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UPDATE: Suspected El Saler arsonist remanded in custody without bail

By Chris King • Updated: 27 Oct 2023 • 1:25

Image of burned area in El Saler, Valencia.

Image of burned area in El Saler, Valencia. Credit: Twitter@AjuntamentVLC

UPDATE: Friday, October 27 at 1:18 am

A 59-year-old man detained in relation to several suspected intentional fires registered in the Valencian region of Devesa de El Saler was remanded in custody without bail this Thursday, October 26.

The Spanish national was initially arrested by the Guardia Civil on Wednesday 25, following investigations carried out by Seprona. This reportedly involved the collaboration of local residents, according to larazon.es.

Their input was said to have been ‘fundamental’ to locating the alleged arsonist. The investigation remains open but its proceedings have been decreed secret.

According to the Superior Court of Justice of the Valencian Community, the detainee will now be investigated for the crime of aggravated forest fire.

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UPDATE: Sunday, October 22 at 7:25 pm

THE El Saler forest fire that was declared to be under control yesterday at midday by the Emergency Coordination Centre of the Generalitat could have been started deliberately.

According to sources of levante-emv.com, accelerating substances were used so that the fire spread faster and burned with more intensity. As a result, several arc-shaped outbreaks occurred which complicated the extinction work of firefighters.

Between 14 and 16 hectares of the Devesa del Saler is believed to have been affected by the flames. The Guardia Civil has already launched an investigation into the blaze and is said to be analysing evidence in an effort to determine the origin of the fire added the news outlet.

Several police patrols have been deployed to the location of the fire to look for possible clues. As a result, access to the Parador Luís Vives is being controlled by the force.

No suspects have been arrested yet but local residents are said to be convinced that the spate of fires that have occurred since August are the work of an arsonist.

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Saturday, October 21 at 6:28 pm

ANOTHER fire was declared in La Devesa de El Saler natural park in the Valencian Community this Saturday, October 21.

Today’s blaze, which broke out around midday, was the ninth fire or attempt to ignite one noted since August and the second to occur in a 24-hour period, according to lasprovincias.es.

After receiving the alert, 11 fire crews were deployed to the location by the Emergency Coordination Centre, along with four specialised forestry units, three fire appliances, four environmental officers and two aerial resources, including an amphibious plane.

Situation 1 of the Special Plan Against the Risk of Forest Fires in the Valencian Community (PEIF) was put in place by the CCE.

El Casal d’Esplai hostel was evacuated as a precaution

As a preventive measure, the El Casal d’Esplai hostel was evacuated, with firefighters reporting that 18 people had to leave the building. The flow of traffic was also cut on the CV-500, specifically, from Km 8.5 to 15.

Posting on social media, María José Catalá, the mayor of Valencia, pointed out that she was ‘very aware’ of the fire breaking out.

She indicated that in an effort to coordinate the extinction work, the council was in permanent contact with the Department of the Environment, Water, Infrastructure and Territory and also the ‘112 CV’.

A fire that broke out last night in the Devesa de El Saler area once again put the residents of the area on alert. They are said to currently be living in a permanent state of surveillance.

This led to the fire being spotted quickly which allowed the Fire Brigade to be notified and prevented the spread of the flames before they could cause any serious damage.

Could the fires be the work of an arsonist?

It is widely believed among the local population that the outbreaks are intentional and are the work of an arsonist. Members of the Dehesa de El Saler Neighbourhood Association have urged all residents to be vigilant in the event of any suspicious activities they might observe.

Prior to Friday night’s fire, another one occurred on the evening of Tuesday 17, near Avenida Gola del Puchol, in the Sidi Saler area. It burned into the early hours of Wednesday.

Due to the close proximity of the blaze to nearby apartment blocks, the Emergency Centre decreed situation 1 of the Forest Fire Plan. This time it affected a forest classified as valuable which is protected for its environmental value.

Thank you for taking the time to read this article. Do remember to come back and check The Euro Weekly News website for all your up-to-date local and international news stories and remember, you can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Written by

Chris King

Originally from Wales, Chris spent years on the Costa del Sol before moving to the Algarve where he is a web reporter for The Euro Weekly News covering international and Spanish national news. Got a news story you want to share? Then get in touch at editorial@euroweeklynews.com

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