The person accused of causing the Naranco (Oviedo) mountain fire in 2023, which led to the evacuation of many people, caused the death of animals and damaged several homes and facilities, admitted the facts on Monday and was sentenced to eight years in prison, the longest sentence imposed so far in the autonomous region for the crime of forest fire, knowing that the life or safety of the residents of the region was at risk. In addition, the responsible person must pay a fine and corresponding compensation to the affected parties, and undergo appropriate medical treatment for their condition, according to the Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Principality of Asturias and the specific charges.
The man, a 47-year-old resident of Llanera, had spent 21 months in prison over these events. At the time of these operations, he was suffering from a serious addiction to alcohol, cocaine, and to a lesser extent, hashish, an addiction that began at an early age and which he had abandoned since his entry into prison, where he received detoxification treatment.
The oral hearing is scheduled to take place in the Second Division of the Regional Court, based in Oviedo. The prosecutor’s office initially requested 13 years in prison.
Facts
According to the Public Prosecutor’s report, at approximately 1:00 a.m. on March 31, 2023, the accused, driving a white rented truck, model Renault Traffic, drove to Mount Naranco, in Oviedo, where, with the intention of starting a fire, he applied a direct heat source, with a lighter or the like, in at least two areas near the road, at a point near a Buenos Aires restaurant.
Given the conditions that morning, which set the danger level at five (severe), the fire spread over a total of 99 hectares, affecting 50% of the eucalyptus tree mass, 10% of the tree mass of other species (pedunculated oak, chestnut, birch, beech, hazel, ash) and 40% of the shrubland, mainly composed of gall, heather, fern and bramble.
The fire caused environmental damage estimated at 32,808.54 euros, in addition to expenses resulting from the intervention of firefighting services, which was extinguished at 8:00 pm. On the same day for an amount of up to 8,513.32 euros.
As a result of the fire, many people were evacuated from their homes due to the danger it poses to their lives and physical safety, specifically in the city of Constante, in Casares, in the town of Arneo, in the town of Vitoria de Arriba, and in Tulio, causing numerous damages to buildings such as chicken coops, farm sheds, trailers, fodder, shed materials, water tanks and facilities, palm and cypress trees, roofs, appliances, pigeon towers, sheds, and also to pets. The fire affected plots of land owned by more than 60 individuals. Businesses, the Diocese of Oviedo and the Oviedo City Council were also damaged.
Then, at about 2:30 a.m. of the same day, the accused went, for the same purpose, to the town of Andorcio, Llanera, where he also placed a heat source on the leaf litter in at least two areas next to the road from Portela to Regidorio, near Andorcio, thus intentionally causing another fire.
This fire spread over a total area of 8.6 hectares, affecting 70% of the forest mass of various species (eucalyptus, oak, chestnut and ash) and 30% of the grassland, composed mainly of gorse shrubs, heather, ferns and brambles, all this in a total of four properties and causing environmental damage worth €2,655.22, in addition to expenses resulting from the intervention of the fire extinguishing services. In the amount of 1,442.02 euros.
The fire affected plots of land owned by the Llanera City Council and several individuals, some of whom did not complain. As a result of this latest fire, there was no danger to people.
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