A 73-year-old man was detained by the GNR after an authorised burning turned into an out of control wildfire in Delgada, in the Bombarral area. Leiria’s Territorial Command of the Guarda Nacional Republicana responded to an alert reporting a fire in a wooded area. Officers carried out on-site police inquiries that led to identifying the suspect and taking him into custody. Police established that the fire, which consumed around 5,000 square metres, started from the burning of leftover materials. Despite being authorised, the burning spread beyond control. The man was then brought before investigators as a defendant, meaning he was formally questioned within the case. The case file was sent to the Judicial Court of Caldas da Rainha. GNR said protecting people and property during rural fires remains a priority, supported by preventive action and patrols in forest areas.