A 44-year-old woman from Tripoli, Greece, is facing legal trouble after she intentionally started not one, but two forest fires in an agricultural area in Kerasitsa. The incidents reportedly occurred on August 24 and 25, and she was arrested on August 26 by the Tripoli Police Department. Investigators revealed that her unusual motive was to attract the attention of firefighters so she could meet up with them and flirt. According to the Police Department, the woman was spotted at both fire sites, raising suspicions among firefighters. After the investigation was completed, the woman was arrested.

According to local media Skai TV, she was sentenced to 36 months in prison and a fine of 1,000 euros (around 92,000 rupees). Meanwhile, the woman’s sentence has been suspended. However, if she commits another crime within a certain period, she will be asked to serve this sentence along with the new one. Fortunately, the fires she started only damaged small plots of land and were quickly brought under control by the fire department. On the other hand, no injuries were reported, thanks to the quick response of firefighters at both scenes.

The recent forest fire in Kerasitsa comes weeks after Greece battled severe forest fires in Athens. Residents and tourists in the capital were advised to evacuate as hundreds of firefighters battled the massive blaze, which was sparked by strong winds and dry conditions caused by intense heatwaves. To deal with the increasing number of fire incidents, new penalties were introduced for those who accidentally start fires.

George, a 36-year-old volunteer firefighter, told the BBC: “It was like hell. It was like war. We don’t have the resources to overcome these conditions.” Meanwhile, his partner Georgia added: “I think the future is not very good for us and our children. We love summer, but not like this. We’re doing everything we can to destroy our planet. We’ve created cities that may not be exactly in the right place or the right type. I remember when I was a child, the mountains facing the capital were green.”

Alex Krokidas of the NGO Thalpos noted that the psychological effects of these fires will be felt for a long time. He explained that the trauma can have delayed effects, as people may experience anxiety or flashbacks after the events. Meanwhile, Greek officials defended their response to the recent fires, saying they acted quickly despite the extreme and difficult conditions.