Two arrests in Viotia wildfire that spread to Attica: sparks from wind-farm power lines blamed
An electrical engineer and a contractor were arrested after investigators traced the Viotia wildfire to oscillations in a private grid connecting wind turbines to the main network, according to the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection.
Greek authorities arrested two men on suspicion of arson through conditional intent, known in Greek law as dolus eventualis and charged here at felony level, over a wildfire that began in Viotia's Agios Vasileios area and spread to Attica. The fire was traced to sparking from conductors in a private power-transmission line linking wind turbines to the central electricity grid.
Cause traced to conductor oscillation
Investigators from the Directorate for Combating Arson Crimes (D.A.E.E.) carried out on-site inspections, collected testimony and analysed video footage of the fire's first minutes. An electromechanical expert assisted at the scene. The joint assessment concluded that oscillation in the conductors of a private network caused sparking. The sparks fell onto vegetation, igniting a fire that quickly grew and crossed from Viotia into Attica.
Oscillation of the conductors occurred in the private network transmitting electricity from wind turbines to the central power grid, which caused sparking. The sparks fell to the ground, starting the fire, which took on large dimensions and spread from Viotia to Attica.
Arrests and charges
Two Greek nationals were arrested under the flagrante delicto procedure, the Greek in-the-act process that allows immediate arrest and a fast-track appearance before a prosecutor. One is an electrical engineer who signed the study and supervision of the project; the second is a contractor who handled construction of the transmission network. Both face felony charges of arson through conditional intent, meaning the allegation is that they foresaw fire as a possible consequence of their work and accepted that risk, not that they set the fire deliberately.
Company owner sought
A third person, the owner of the wind-turbine company, was also named in the case file. He was sought under the flagrante delicto procedure but was not located. Authorities have not said he evaded them, and he has not been arrested or charged.
Investigation ongoing
The D.A.E.E. is still examining all technical, testimonial and video evidence to fully determine how the fire started and spread and to assign any further criminal responsibility. The two arrested men were due to appear before a prosecutor.
