The investigation began when 26 fires were recorded in early August in the Saint-Hilaire-les-Places, Ladignac-le-Long, La Meyze, Bussière-Galand, Flavignac and Les Cars sectors, “for more than one ten hectares of burnt vegetation”.
Duty of care
The Limoges research brigade quickly turned to the criminal trail and, following the investigations, placed a 68-year-old woman residing in Haute-Vienne in police custody. The latter admitted having started 20 fires between 2019 and 2022 in these municipalities. Placed under judicial supervision, she is subject to an obligation of care.
In 2019, fires of the same type, “mainly started on the edge of the road near a forest”, had been observed in this same sector, according to the gendarmerie. This is the third suspected arsonist arrested in Haute-Vienne this summer.
Boredom and fascination
Last week, the police arrested a 55-year-old woman who admitted having caused eight fires in August in Couzeix, near Limoges.
She explained that she acted in particular “out of boredom, liking to watch the start of fire before leaving the premises”. His trial is set for December 16.
In addition, a man arrested by the gendarmerie and suspected of being the author of eight fires between June 12 and July 19 in Saint-Sulpice-les-Feuilles, in the north of the department, is currently imprisoned at the house of judgment of Limoges, awaiting trial.