London
17 °C
Manchester
17 °C
Glasgow
Dublin
Belfast
15 °C
Washington
20 °C
Denver
Atlanta
21 °C
Dallas
Houston Texas
27 °C
New Orleans
El Paso
Phoenix
30 °C
Los Angeles
28 °C
10 °C
26 °C
Chile arrests ex-firefighter with 'hero' motive over deadly blaze / Photo: © AFP/File
NYSE - LSE
| CMSC | -0.41% | 24.15 | $ | |
| CMSD | -0.58% | 24.32 | $ | |
| SCS | -0.18% | 16.87 | $ | |
| RIO | -0.13% | 63.57 | $ | |
| BCC | -0.6% | 78.97 | $ | |
| JRI | 0.28% | 14.04 | $ | |
| RBGPF | -1.74% | 75.29 | $ | |
| BCE | 0.73% | 23.24 | $ | |
| NGG | 0.56% | 71.36 | $ | |
| GSK | -0.96% | 40.52 | $ | |
| RYCEF | 0.64% | 15.74 | $ | |
| BTI | -1.28% | 53.19 | $ | |
| BP | 1.07% | 34.74 | $ | |
| VOD | -0.26% | 11.36 | $ | |
| RELX | -1.31% | 46.47 | $ | |
| AZN | -2.01% | 75.97 | $ |
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.
H. de Araujo--JDB
