Pula, the alleged person responsible for the fire arrested: the Region's praise for the Forestry Corps

"I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to the Forestry and Environmental Surveillance Corps of the Sardinia Region, and in particular to the Forestry Station of Pula, which arrested the alleged person responsible for the arson attack. which broke out on May 29th, a few steps away from the homes of Sarroch and the SARAS plants", according to the President of the Region, Alessandra Todde, comments on the arrest made by the CFVA agents of the Pula Station. On the afternoon of May 29, 2025, a fire broke out in the Su Leunaxi area, in the countryside of the municipality of Pula, near the peripheral homes of Sarroch and the SARAS refinery.

Thanks to the timely reporting, the Forestry Corps firefighting teams arrived on site within minutes, immediately starting containment and extinguishing operations.. The flames, fueled by the wind, threatened a large area of ​​wooded pasture and Mediterranean scrub, with the looming risk to reach homes, rural settlements and SARAS facilities. The intervention involved 16 operators including Forestry Corps agents, Fire Brigade and Barracellare Company of Sarroch, supported by 5 fire-fighting vehicles.

Given the proximity of inhabited areas and industrial plants, the support of a helicopter from the regional fire-fighting system was also necessary, taking off from the Pula base, which carried out 7 launches. The subsequent inspection carried out by the Forestry Corps agents allowed them to find a partially burned homemade incendiary device at the ignition point, typical of timed devices already classified by the CFVA among those used for arson. The investigations were started immediately after the discovery and led to the acquisition of images which constitute the main source of evidence.

Further evidence was obtained during a search carried out on June 10. The documents were forwarded to the Public Prosecutor's Office, which, on the basis of the evidence collected by the Forestry Station, requested thehouse arrest for the suspect, pursuant to art. 423 bis of the penal code, confirmed by the Preliminary Investigations Judge, Giorgio Altieri. The Preliminary Investigation Judge has in fact detected serious evidence of guilt, which has allowed the reconstruction of the movements on board a vehicle, as well as the release of the time trigger by the suspect.

Considering the concrete danger of repetition of the crime and the significant danger to public safety, The Preliminary Investigation Judge ordered the man to be placed under house arrest, combined with surveillance via electronic bracelet. “The work of the Forestry officers, often silent but fundamental, is not limited to putting out fires. There is a constant commitment also on the investigative front, to identify and bring to justice those responsible for the malicious fires that threaten human lives, homes, economic activities, entire ecosystems", underlines the President of the Region.

The Commander of the Corps, Gianluca Cocco, expresses "deep appreciation for the investigative and operational work carried out, in defense of Sardinia, by all the CFVA staff and in particular on this occasion by the men and women of the Cagliari inspectorate, directed by Carlo Masnata and of the Pula Forestry Station, under the command of Inspector Massimo Sardara”. “We are talking about women and men – highlights President Todde – who operate in extreme conditions, amidst unbearable heat, smoke and constant dangers. Who do not retreat in the face of risk, who act with competence and determination. Their work is a garrison, an active defense of the most precious asset we have: our land”. “The Region is with you and with all the forces engaged on the fire prevention front“, concludes Todde.