Fire fighter filmed starting blaze in northern Italy

As Italian fire fighters are struggling to put out fires caused by the heatwave that struck southern Europe in the past 10 days, a 28-year-old fire fighter was caught on camera starting fires in waste bins and hedges.

The man was arrested in Pavia, Lombardy and police are now suspecting he may have been behind seven other fires since 2014.

15 other fire fighters have previously been arrested for similar actions in Sicily, with police blaming the incidents on a planned effort to force employment bonuses increases.

The Secretary General of the fire fighter’s union Conapo, Antonio Brizzi, said these cases would only lead to further crises at a time when 3,500 had been laid off or retired in cost-cutting measures across the country.

He also called for more psychological aid for volunteer fire fighters.