A 14-year-old boy admitted setting several wildfires in Portugal using matches.
Police say he rode his scooter into forest areas before igniting blazes.
Officers suspect him in fires across Seidões, Ardegão, and Arnozela.
Police Reveal Motive and Investigation
Authorities believe frustration from poor grades and social struggles motivated his actions.
They have not ruled out possible involvement with others in starting the fires.
Investigators launched inquiries after repeated blazes struck the same parishes.
Police reported daily destruction of forest land, alarming residents and damaging hectares of woodland.
Judicial Process Moves Forward
The Braga Judicial Police handed the case to the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
The prosecutor will present it before the Family and Children’s Court.
By 20 August, police had arrested 52 people for suspected arson, most in August.
Firefighting Efforts Intensify
Emergency services said 97 fires burned on Friday, with most under control.
The Vinhais fire remained highly active, spreading across three fronts.
More than 400 firefighters, 140 vehicles, and six planes fought the blaze.
Authorities reported two fronts under control, but one remained difficult to access.
Weather Conditions Offer Relief
Falling temperatures supported firefighting efforts across Portugal.
Forecasters predicted between 14 and 32 degrees Celsius under cloudy skies.
Despite this, IPMA placed southern and interior regions on maximum wildfire alert.
