Spain's Forest Fires Worst On Record So Far In 2006 - Reuters

[hatrack]

MADRID - Spain has suffered its most destructive forest fires in a decade so far this year, the Environment Ministry said on Friday.

Some 124,000 hectares have gone up in smoke, two thirds of that in the northwestern region of Galicia.

Summer fires are a recurring phenomenon in Spain with an average 140,000 hectares burned every year from 1990 to 2004 although they have become more widespread in recent years.

Police arrested some 30 people in connection with the Galician fires and authorities have pointed the finger of blame at warring neighbours, property speculators, pyromaniacs and unemployed firefighters seeking work.

EDIT

http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/37746/story.htm

[Oerdin]

1. Most are man made.

NPR was reporting that a lot of the fires in Northern Spain have been deliberately set. It seems that the area has an unemployment problem so lots of part time firemen actually go out and set fires just so the state will hire them and give them jobs. It's cynical but I guess money is a powerful motivator.