How Arsonists Used Cats to Spread Italy’s Wildfires
Investigators say 1,000-euro reward is offered after cats with flammable rags were used to spread fires in a suspected arson scheme.
- As wildfires blazed in southern Italy this week, authorities in Calabria discovered cats with flammable-soaked rags tied to their tails, allegedly used to spread fire across fields. Domenico Costarella of Calabria's Civil Protection Agency confirmed the discovery on Tuesday.
- Using animals to ignite fires is not new; authorities in Sicily and Naples reported similar tactics in 2016 and 2017. UC Berkeley researcher Lauren Pearson noted that Mafia groups often use arson to gain territory, exploiting Italy's clean energy transition.
- Investigators found additional evidence of arson, including candles and delayed ignition devices. Firefighters completed more than 160 missions in the past 24 hours to contain blazes around Pollino National Park, according to Italian broadcaster RAI.
- The Italian Association for the Defense of Animals and the Environment filed a criminal complaint and offered a 1,000 euro reward for information identifying those responsible. The group seeks leads on who set the animals alight.
- Europe's fire season remains above the 20-year average despite 2026 being better than recent years, according to EFFIS. Costarella warned that stopping such arson requires a societal shift, as wet winter conditions fueled new vegetation that ignited after summer heatwaves.
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86 Articles
In Calabria, Civil Protection claims to have discovered cats used to spread fires using rags soaked in flammable liquid. ...
Arsonists tie burning rags to stray cats to spark devastating wildfires in Italy
Arsonists tied burning rags to stray cats before setting them loose to spread wildfires through one of Italy's largest national parks, investigators have revealed.The terrified animals ran through Pollino National Park in Calabria, igniting fires as they fled and leaving vast swathes of the protected landscape devastated.Investigators also discovered candles and delayed ignition devices among the charred remains, suggesting the blazes had been c…
In Italy it burns in several regions. Now, a civil defender reports of cruel methods of arsonists.
The south of Italy burns and, while the neighbors are forced to evacuate their homes and the firefighters are trying to extinguish the flames, an overwhelming discovery about the origin of the fires hits society. The Civil Protection Department of the Calabria region has revealed a hypothesis about the start of the spotlights, which is being investigated by the authorities: the use of live cats to provoke the fires. In their fight against the fl…
The authorities of Calabria and Sicily analyze whether several outbreaks were accelerated with animals to which fuel-impregnated rags were attached
In southern Italy, devastating forest fires are raging. Animal protectionists make serious accusations against unknown people. For clues, a reward beckons.
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