Major arrest follows a weekend of suspected arson fires in Santa Ponsa and Calvià
A 55-year-old German national faces arson charges after a weekend marked by a string of intentional fires in the Santa Ponsa area of Majorca. Law enforcement reports indicate rapid intervention by firefighting crews and police helped to prevent more extensive damage to brush and woodland. The individual appeared before Palma’s court on Monday morning, with authorities seeking to determine his exact motives and the extent of the alleged damage.
Events began on Saturday afternoon, when three separate blazes erupted on farms along Camí de Son Pillo in Calvià. Mallorca Firefighters moved quickly to contain the fires, managing to prevent the flames from spreading across approximately 600 square meters of scrubland. Investigators assessed the incidents as intentional from the outset, given the proximity to dry vegetation and the rapid, repeated onset of multiple fires in short succession.
On Sunday morning, two additional fires were reported. The first fire occurred on a farm adjacent to the road linking Es Capdellà to Puigpunyent, within a woodland area that carries a very high risk during hot weather. The second fire started nearby on the same route toward Santa Ponsa street, with both incidents causing significant concern for residents and emergency crews alike. In both cases, the fires were contained before they could cause broader harm, thanks to swift action by responders.
Authorities from the Nature Conservation Service of the Civil Guard, known as Seprona, and agents of the armed forces’ Calvià unit began gathering evidence as investigations progressed. Officers collected samples from the affected areas to determine whether the fires were the result of deliberate action or accidental ignition, though initial indicators leaned toward intent given the pattern of fires and their timing.
Two more fires were subsequently reported in the Santa Ponsa region, with Mallorca’s fire service working to suppress them without major complications. As the weekend unfolded, a coordinated effort involving Calvià Civil Guards, Seprona personnel, local police, and environmental officers intensified in an attempt to locate the person or persons responsible and prevent further incidents.
Eyewitness accounts and a series of strategic deployments helped guide the investigation. A rapid-response protocol was activated in the area, bringing together Calvià Civil Guards, Seprona experts, local police, and environmental agents to pursue leads and monitor the affected zones. The goal was to identify the suspect with minimal disruption to the local community while ensuring public safety and environmental protection.
Midday on Sunday brought a critical development when a forest ranger observed a vehicle departing the Son Pillo area at high speed. The sighting triggered an alert that led Calvià Local Police to stop the car at a routine checkpoint. A subsequent search of the vehicle and its contents yielded evidence consistent with the fires being set intentionally, including what appeared to be kitchen burners used during the incidents. This discovery provided a pivotal link to the suspected arson activity and helped authorities move the case forward.
By Monday morning, the individual described by authorities as the German arsonist was in custody and handed over to the Palma court for processing. After a preliminary hearing, a judge ordered his release on certain charges, while the investigation continues to determine the full scope of the alleged arson spree and any accompanying risks to nearby communities. As authorities evaluate the case, residents in the affected neighborhoods are reminded of the ongoing importance of vigilance and prompt reporting of unusual activity near vulnerable brush and forested areas.