The man, a volunteer firefighter from the Herault region, was arrested on Wednesday, regional prosecutors said. The case of the man dubbed the “arson fireman” by French media has sparked intense interest in France, which has been rocked by a series of fires during last week’s heat wave that forced the evacuation of thousands of people. Montpellier prosecutor Fabrice Belargent said in a statement that the man admitted to lighting fires with a lighter on May 26, July 21 and most recently on the night of July 26-27. “When asked about his motive, he stated that he did it to provoke fire department intervention to save him from an oppressive family environment and because of the excitement these interventions gave him,” Belargent said. “Adrenalin said it – those are his words,” the prosecutor said. “He also said he had a need for social recognition.” The man, who is in his 30s but has not been named, works full-time as a forester, with fire prevention one of his primary duties. His lawyer, Marie Bar, told BFM TV that during questioning the man “expressed very strong regret and above all a strong feeling of shame”. He confirmed that he had been remanded in custody by an investigator before the trial. “He apologized to the … firefighters he works with as he calls them his extended family. This is someone who is very dedicated to his work,” he said. “It’s hard to explain. In a way he is relieved to have been caught. He explains it as an addiction.” If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison and a €150,000 (£125,000) fine. Subscribe to First Edition, our free daily newsletter – every morning at 7am. BST “It’s disgusting to have people like this in the organization,” former fire brigade colonel Ludovic Pinganaud told BFM, adding that of the 200,000 volunteer firefighters in France there were only “a few sick” fire addicts.
