Emphasizing that deliberate fires are crimes rather than natural disasters, he warned they will recur unless met with the full force of the law.

Police caught the suspect red-handed after he allegedly set three fires burning 400m² of forest in Gziq, Rrëshen, following a three-day ground pursuit. The suspect is linked to additional arson attacks in the Mirdita municipality, which police intervention successfully prevented.

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Police warned citizens not to burn yard waste or light outdoor fires. And they should call the police in case of any potential arson attack. /m.q/ /a.g/p.s./

The proposed changes include tougher penalties in the Criminal Code for crimes that damage territory and natural resources.

Under Article 151 on “Destruction of Property by Fire,” the current law states that intentionally damaging property by fire can lead to fines or imprisonment of up to five years. If the offense causes serious material damage, the sentence can increase to up to 10 years, and if it endangers human life or health, imprisonment ranges from five to 15 years.

Justice Minister underlined that the proposed amendments include two additional provisions:

If committed under weather or terrain conditions that significantly increase fire risks and hinder firefighting efforts, or near populated areas, the penalty ranges from three to eight years.

If the offense occurs within protected zones, affects cultural heritage sites, religious buildings, monuments, or critical infrastructure, the sentence is four to 10 years.

The new amendments extend penalties on unauthorized occupation of public or private land for residence, construction, or any use will be punishable by up to two years in prison.

If repeated, committed in cooperation, or obstructing lawful use by the owner or possessor, the penalty increases to six months to three years.

If occurring in protected areas, natural parks, or affecting cultural heritage sites, religious buildings, monuments, or critical infrastructure, sentences range from one to five years.

The proposed amendments to the provision “Destruction by Fire of Forests and Forest Environment” state that if committed during conditions that significantly raise fire spread risks and complicate firefighting, or near inhabited areas, the sentence is five to eight years.

If committed in protected areas or affecting cultural heritage, religious sites, monuments, or critical infrastructure, sentences range from four to 10 years.

If aimed at changing land category or use, imprisonment ranges from seven to 15 years.

Courts will also be empowered to prohibit land reclassification in fire-affected forest zones for up to 30 years.

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Unveiling a new legislative package on property and territory protection, the government head criticized sentencing guidelines that impose tougher punishments for unauthorized construction than for intentional arson.

“I strongly oppose the idea that fire-setting carries lighter sentences than illegal building,” he said.

“It is unacceptable that setting a fire, such as the one in Gramsh, results in a sentence of 3 to 8 years, while illegal construction in a protected forest area is punished with 5 to 10 years in prison,” Rama stated.

The Premier argued that while illegal structures can be demolished, restoring burned forests takes decades.

“Deliberate arson should be treated as murder when it destroys the heritage of generations in just a few nights and puts lives at risk,” he said. “When the forest burns, homes go with it. That’s premeditated destruction – and should be treated as such.”

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In a post in the social media, Rama shared footage from the work of the troops engaged in extinguishing the fires that have engulfed several areas of the country in recent days.

“Grateful thanks and high estimation to the firefighters, army forces, police, volunteers and residents who are facing the flames, putting their lives at risk to protect people, homes and our nature”, emphasized Rama.

PM Rama said that, “Those who deliberately start fires, destroy property and endanger lives, in this difficult time of global warming, heatwaves and flames that are challenging all Mediterranean countries in particular, should receive the most severe punishment provided by the law”.

Currently, the situation remains critical in Delvina, where the fire has been burning with high intensity even during the night hours. The flames continue to burn in the hills surrounding the city, while air intervention by helicopter has also begun.

The situation is more difficult in the village of Menkollar, Gramsh where there are sent three firefighting vehicles, accompanied by numerous army forces, volunteers and numerous residents of the area, as well as two helicopters that are constantly dropping water to prevent the spread of the flames. /k.s/j.p/p.s./

In an interview with the media, Vengu underlined that there is work going on to extinguish the fires from the ground and air, as well as to investigate suspected arson attacks.

From Poliçan, where he was monitoring the situation on the ground, Vengu stressed that most of the fires are deliberate, but there are also those that are reactivated as a result of the inability to control all fire areas after extinguishing them.

“There is high risk due to hot weather, but also the human factor. Today, there were more active fires than extinguished ones. There are 30 fires burning; 5 of them are highly dangerous, big fires and we are monitoring them. We are intervening from the air – like in Finiqi area, but also from the ground. The situation is dynamic; there were flames that have spread to the Syri i Kaltër area, but we are optimistic since the forces are on the ground. We had another emergency in Tepelena, in Lekel, fortunately without damage to people and homes. Here we are in Poliçan, where there are fires, most of which are extinguished from the ground and air. There are 9 Armed Forces vehicles involved; we hope that we will have a calmer situation during the evening, but maximum vigilance is required”, said Vengu.

Further on, Vengu said that two of the most problematic outbreaks of the last few hours and which are suspected to be intentional are those in Kavajë-Rrogozhinë and in Zall-Herr in Tirana, very close to army units. The minister said that both are suspected to be man-made, as there is no previous history in the areas.

Vengu also explained the assistance provided by partner countries through the European Protection Mechanism.

“The European Mechanism exists precisely for these situations. We are engaged with it and today we had support with 2 Greek aircraft in Finiq that helped us. We have 2 helicopters from the Czech Republic and Slovakia in Poliçan, Tepelena. We have a Canadair that operated in Tirana and beyond. We have positive news, that 2 helicopters from the United Arab Emirates have also arrived and will start work tomorrow. We are in a position to use these means in the 5 most critical points the next day. Experience shows that 90% of cases have happened because of the human factor, that is, mainly intentional. Like in Poliçan for example, when we put out some fires and they were reactivated somewhere further away and so on”, said the minister. /m.q/r.e/p.s./

Rama shared in the social media moments from the detain of the perpetrator of the arson in the hills of Kurbini, praising the work of the State Police in detaining the perpetrators of these crimes.

“A big bravo to the State Police, which this summer has been in hot pursuit to the arsonists, managing to detain them and bring them behind bars, as in the case of the criminals who set fire to the forest in Laç. I reiterate the appeal to the judges in the districts to sing a different tune and not leave unpunished a barbaric crime like this, which in the Criminal Code of the Republic of Albania is punishable by up to 15 years in prison”, Rama said.

Rama also praised the work of the Civil Protection Agency, which, according to him, has significantly improved the level of performance during this tourist season.

“Thanks again to the Civil Protection Agency which has significantly improved the level of performance during this tourist season, protecting with professionalism and sacrificial spirit the priceless natural wealth and significantly reducing the potential damages of these disgusting crimes,” he said. /m.m/p.s./

In his reaction in social media, Balla wrote that, “The firefighters of all the municipalities near Kurbin have been ordered to intervene, the Civil Emergencies, the Armed Forces and the Rapid Intervention Forces have also left for Laç”.

Balla also said that the State Police caught in the act and arrested one of the perpetrators of this arson (citizen V.H. 41 years old).

Earlier, the Ministry of Defense said that 50 soldiers of the Armed Forces, the Cugar helicopter and 2 fire engines have been mobilized to help put out the massive fire in the municipality of Kurbin.

The flames have engulfed the green crown of the city of Laçi near the road that leads to the St. Anthony Church. /k.s/p.s./

The prime minister shared on social media moments from the arrest of another arsonist, caught red-handed by the Police.

Rama recalled that the law provides for up to 15 years in prison for cases of arson.

“Another arsonist arrested in the act by the State Police and another reason to repeat the appeal to the prosecutors and judges in the districts, to responsibly implement the law, which provides for up to 15 years in prison for this type of criminals”, wrote Rama. /p.s./

The prime minister also congratulated the State Police for its work in discovering and apprehending the perpetrators of arson in forests, olive groves and green areas.

Rama emphasized that, in 79 cases of arson during this year, 55 were completely confirmed, with 62 perpetrators prosecuted.

“The State Police is doing an admirable job in discovering and arresting the perpetrators of the terrible crime of arson in forests, olive groves and green areas. In 79 cases of arson during this year, 55 have been completely confirmed, with 62 perpetrators prosecuted”, Rama wrote in a post on social media, as he shared images of the firefighters’ fighting against the fires.

“20 arsonists are in prison, while the others are being prosecuted at large, but there is still a lack of full punishment, as a result of the scandalous and shamelessly irresponsible approach of some prosecutors and judges in the districts, who apparently are no patriots, are merciless, sth which restrains them in their crime of illegal indifference to a crime like arson on such a valuable property, which belongs to all the children of Albania, but also to all humanity “, said Rama.

“With the changes we have made to the Penal Code in recent years, setting fire to forests is punishable by up to 15 years in prison. In the past, there have been such prosecutors who have failed even to start a criminal case for the arsonists”, emphasized the head of the government.

“I appeal to the bodies of the inspection of justice and the supervision of the activities of prosecutors and judges not to just look on these individuals who are unworthy to serve the law of the Republic of Albania”, underlined Rama.

“I also appeal to the prosecutors and judges who have the above-mentioned cases in their hands, to strictly apply the law and take the responsibility for this wealth created by generations, which belongs to the future generations, as well as to all of humanity”, concluded Rama. /r.e/p.s./