The National Republican Guard detained 173 suspected arsonists during the year 2026. This number represents a significant milestone in the operations to combat forest fires in Portugal.
The director of the Nature and Environment Protection Service, Colonel Ricardo Alves, highlighted that over the last 10 years, 2026 was clearly the year with the highest number of arrests. This statement was made in the context of presenting the operational results.
The official also added that this high number of arrests indicates that there is still work to be done in this area, suggesting that authorities continue to face significant challenges in combating arson.
