A firefighter from southern France is responsible for a series of wildfires in the region that he started in search of adrenaline, French authorities said.
The man, a volunteer firefighter from the Herault region, was arrested on Wednesday, regional prosecutors said.
The case of the man, dubbed a “pyromanic firefighter” by French media, has sparked widespread interest in France, which was shocked by a spate of wildfires during last week’s heatwave, forcing the evacuation of thousands of people.
Montpellier prosecutor Fabrice Belargent said in a statement that the man admitted to setting fires with a lighter on May 26, July 21 and most recently on the night of July 26-27.
“When asked about his motive, he explained that he did this to provoke a fire department response to rescue him from a distressing family environment and because of the upset the interventions caused him,” Belargent said.
“He called it adrenaline — those are his own words,” the prosecutor said. “He also said he needed social approval.”
The man, who is in his 30s but has not been named, works full-time as a forest ranger, with fire prevention being one of his main jobs.
His lawyer, Marie Bar, told BFM TV that the man “expressed a very strong sense of regret and above all a strong sense of shame” when questioned.
She confirmed that he had been remanded in custody by an investigating judge before the trial.
“He apologized to the … firefighters he works with as he calls them his extended family. This is someone who is very dedicated to their work,” she said.
“He finds it difficult to explain. Somehow he’s relieved to have been arrested. He explains it as an addiction.”
If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison and a fine of 150,000 euros.
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“It’s disgusting to have that kind of person in the organisation,” former fire brigade colonel Ludovic Pinganaud told BFM, adding that out of 200,000 volunteer firefighters in France, there are only “some sick people” who are addicted to fire .