Quito man sentenced to prison for intentional forest fire

A man has been sentenced to six months in prison after admitting to intentionally starting a forest fire in San José de Monjas, near Quito, Ecuador. On August 26, the individual used a flammable liquid to ignite dry vegetation and shrubs near the Simón Bolívar avenue.

The court imposed a fine of 1,446 dollars and ordered economic reparations totaling 498.53 dollars to the Quito Fire Department. The conviction followed investigations and inspections conducted by the Quito Fire Department and the Prosecutor's Office, which included expert assessments to quantify the environmental damage caused by the blaze.

While the sentence is relatively short, officials noted that the ruling serves as a signal that those responsible for intentional fires will be investigated and sanctioned. Under the Organic Integral Penal Code, the penalties for this crime can range from one to three years of imprisonment.