A 14-year-old boy admitted to police that he deliberately started wildfires in Portugal.
He rode a scooter to forested areas in Seidões, Ardegão, and Arnozela and used matches to ignite fires.
Police believe anger over poor school results and social struggles motivated his actions.
Authorities have not ruled out the possibility that he acted with others.
Authorities Investigate Repeated Fire Outbreaks
Police launched investigations after wildfires repeatedly erupted in the same parishes.
The summer fires destroyed several hectares of forest and alarmed local residents.
Braga Judicial Police completed the probe and transferred the case to the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
The case will proceed to the Family and Children’s Court.
Firefighting Efforts Underway Across Portugal
By 20 August, police had arrested 52 suspects linked to arson, mostly in August.
Emergency services reported 97 fires burning on Friday morning, with most under control.
The Vinhais fire remained the most active and dangerous, spreading across three fronts.
Authorities deployed over 400 firefighters, 140 vehicles, and six planes to contain the blaze.
Two fronts were mostly controlled, but one remained difficult to access.
Falling temperatures aided firefighting, but IPMA issued maximum wildfire risk alerts for southern and interior Portugal.
