London
14 °C
Manchester
13 °C
Glasgow
Dublin
Belfast
12 °C
Washington
12 °C
Denver
Atlanta
Dallas
Houston Texas
New Orleans
El Paso
Phoenix
29 °C
Los Angeles
17 °C
13 °C
19 °C
33 °C
Chile arrests ex-firefighter with 'hero' motive over deadly blaze / Photo: © AFP/File
NYSE - LSE
| SCS | -0.15% | 12.95 | $ | |
| GSK | -0.49% | 38.63 | $ | |
| BCC | 1.68% | 141.27 | $ | |
| BTI | -0.26% | 35.2 | $ | |
| RBGPF | 100% | 60.52 | $ | |
| RIO | -0.11% | 69.62 | $ | |
| NGG | -1.56% | 65.48 | $ | |
| CMSD | -0.09% | 24.79 | $ | |
| CMSC | -0.53% | 24.57 | $ | |
| RELX | -0.54% | 46.04 | $ | |
| BCE | -0.54% | 33.53 | $ | |
| VOD | 0.31% | 9.69 | $ | |
| RYCEF | -0.15% | 6.87 | $ | |
| JRI | -0.76% | 13.18 | $ | |
| AZN | -0.78% | 76.87 | $ | |
| BP | 0.78% | 33.14 | $ |
Chile arrests ex-firefighter with 'hero' motive over deadly blaze
Chilean police on Monday arrested a former fireman for allegedly contributing to a massive blaze that killed 137 people and destroyed thousands of homes in February because he wanted to be a "hero" by helping put it out.
The arrest of Elias Salazar, 39, adds to those of another volunteer firefighter and a forestry official suspected of involvement in the second deadliest inferno recorded in the world this century.
Several fires broke out simultaneously on February 2 around the coastal city of Vina del Mar, some 70 miles (110 kilometers) northwest of Chile's capital Santiago.
The inferno was fueled by winds and a heat wave that saw temperatures of around 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit).
Authorities had said from the start that the fires were likely set intentionally.
Salazar was once a volunteer firefighter and until his arrest an employee of the National Service for Disaster Prevention and Response (Senapred).
Valparaiso police official Guillermo Galvez said Monday Salazar is accused as a "material author" in the events and for allegedly setting at least one of the fires.
About the motivation, Galvez said Salazar "likes to be a hero, participating and helping in emergencies."
He will appear in court on Tuesday charged with arson.
The other two suspects have been ordered held in pre-trial detention for six months.
A. Bogdanow--BTZ
