A discarded cigarette butt is believed to have caused a massive forest fire that destroyed 800 hectares of land in the south of France at the weekend, as dry conditions see blazes across southern Europe, reports The Telegraph.
More than 800 firefighters and 210 fire engines were drafted in to tackle a wild fire this weekend at Saint-Cannat, near the southern French university city of Aix-en-Provence, prompting police close to roads and some rambling areas to the public. Train services between Paris and Marseille were also delayed as the fire spread close to the tracks.
The fire started up again twice on Sunday, but despite its rapid spread, claimed no victims, confirmed the Bouches-du-Rhône's fire service.
As for the causes: "The theory of the discarded cigarette butt is currently favoured because the fire started by the side of the road," said Rémy Avon, vice-prosecutor for the Aix-en-Provence area.
Starting a fire, even involuntarily via a cigarette butt, is punishable by a maximum three years in prison and a 45,000-euro fine. Authorities said there was no suggestion it was the result of arson but had also ruled out natural causes.
Fire services were on red alert on Monday as temperatures were expected to soar into the mid to high 30s.