Photo : YONHAP News
Police have detained a man in his 60s who is suspected of starting the wildfire in Hamyang County, South Gyeongsang Province, which was recorded as this year’s first large-scale wildfire.
The police in South Gyeongsang Province said they detained the man on arson charges.
Besides starting the Hamyang wildfire on February 21, the man is also suspected of setting ablaze another hill in Hamyang on February 7 and a hill in Namwon, North Jeolla Province, on January 29.
After last month’s wildfire, police formed a team, tracked the man down near the three sites, and apprehended him following joint forensic investigation and CCTV analysis.
Police say the man prepared tools beforehand and started the fires in deserted areas.
Meanwhile, the suspect has been identified as the serial arsonist who started wildfires on Mount Bongdae in Ulsan for 17 years between 1994 and 2011.