> Most fires in the EU ignite due to human behavior — whether intentional or not. But the emphasis on what sparked the fires has drawn criticism from experts.
> Víctor Resco de Dios, professor of forest science at Spain’s University of Lleida, said focusing on who or what started the fire allows governments to “blame the fires on individuals” rather than policy failures.
> “Whereas if the discussion is around what made the fire spread, then we’d need to talk about who’s responsible for managing forests — and in this case, the blame could be on politicians,” he added. “This is why the debate is often quickly shifted away from forest management to what caused the ignition.”
> Greece has arrested dozens of suspected arsonists in recent weeks, but many of them were later released.
> Three out of four people detained last Thursday were released, for example. Lighters found in their possession, considered incriminating evidence, were not working, while suspicious sprays turned out to be just car deodorants.
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> Experts say European countries [have to step up forest management](https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-wildfires-global-warming-climate-change-land-management-trees-deforestation/) in particular, as fires spread particularly quickly through large tracts of dry vegetation. Yet while Greece’s government has acknowledged it needs to boost preventive efforts, its response in recent weeks has been to look for scapegoats.
> Most fires in the EU ignite due to human behavior — whether intentional or not. But the emphasis on what sparked the fires has drawn criticism from experts.
> Víctor Resco de Dios, professor of forest science at Spain’s University of Lleida, said focusing on who or what started the fire allows governments to “blame the fires on individuals” rather than policy failures.
> “Whereas if the discussion is around what made the fire spread, then we’d need to talk about who’s responsible for managing forests — and in this case, the blame could be on politicians,” he added. “This is why the debate is often quickly shifted away from forest management to what caused the ignition.”
> Several newspapers [ran](https://www.real.gr/realnews/arthro/realnews_27_8_2023-944035/) incendiary [headlines](https://www.naftemporiki.gr/frontpages/efimerides-imerisies/apogeymatini/?filter_date=25/08/2023) blaming migrants.
> Greece has arrested dozens of suspected arsonists in recent weeks, but many of them were later released.
> Three out of four people detained last Thursday were released, for example. Lighters found in their possession, considered incriminating evidence, were not working, while suspicious sprays turned out to be just car deodorants.
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