French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced today, Tuesday, following a meeting of the ministerial crisis management center, the arrest of 402 people in connection with the fires that have occurred in the country over the past few weeks.
Nuñez stated in a press conference reported by "Video News Agency" that among those arrested, 156 are minors, adding that "36 people are in prison, either because they have received sentences or because they are awaiting trial."
The Interior Minister pointed out that "14,000 fires have broken out since the beginning of the season" in France.
Regarding the fire in the Var region in the city of Pontivy, Nuñez said that "1,250 firefighters are still deployed at the site," explaining that the fire, which broke out 15 days ago, is, in his words, "the longest" that the region has experienced.
As for the Drome region in the city of Bellegarde-sur-Valserine, the minister indicated that the fire that broke out on Monday in "an area that is difficult to access by land means" requires "the mobilization of significant resources," especially aerial ones. He noted the participation of "4 Canadair planes, 2 Dash planes, and a helicopter for water drops" in firefighting operations.