Israeli Man Arrested in Crete for Starting Forest Fire During High-Risk Alert

A 35-year-old Israeli man was arrested in Crete, Greece, on suspicion of negligently causing a brush and forest fire by lighting a barbecue in a high fire-risk area. The fire broke out around 19:11 on Friday and took about four hours to contain, though it did not spread extensively. The suspect is scheduled for a detention extension hearing at the local court, where authorities will decide whether to press charges or release him under restrictions. According to Greek media, 297 people have been arrested this year for causing fires, including 30 for deliberate arson, with fines totaling over 1.1 million euros since January. In related news, two firefighting helicopters collided in Greece, killing the pilots, and the Israeli ambassador reported that some people were trapped and burned inside their homes during recent fires.