Curinga: Man arrested after drone captures him starting forest fires

An individual has been arrested in flagrante delicto after being filmed by a regional drone while setting fires in the Ergadi area of Curinga, Calabria. The fire affected approximately 1.5 hectares of land in a zone highly vulnerable to rapid fire spread.

The surveillance was conducted via a drone operated by the Calabria Region. Images of the suspect igniting multiple points were monitored in real-time by the regional Control Room and Carabinieri Forestali. This information was immediately relayed to local patrols from the Girifalco Forest Nucleus and the Curinga Carabinieri station, allowing them to intercept the man.

Following the intervention, the fire was contained by the Vigili del Fuoco and Calabria Verde personnel. The suspect was placed under house arrest, a measure subsequently validated by a judge from the Lamezia Terme Court. The operation was part of the ‘Tolleranza Zero’ project and the 2026 Forest Fire Prevention campaign.