A fire brigade command vehicle was partially destroyed by arson during the night between Monday and Tuesday. Parked outside a fire station in Corse-du-Sud, it was set alight whilst the firefighters were out on a call-out, according to a statement from the prefecture.
"Whilst the investigation being conducted under the authority of the public prosecutor is only just beginning, there is little doubt as to the intentional nature of such acts", the press release states.
Several other fires
Fortunately, no one was injured. The incident occurred whilst firefighters from the Vero fire station were responding to a fire in a neighbouring town, about ten kilometres away.
"At the same time, two other fires were reported behind the fire station," the prefecture stated. "No one was injured," but the fire engine was "partially destroyed", as was another civilian vehicle. The Prefect of Corsica, Josiane Chevalier, condemned the incidents “in the strongest possible terms” and is due to visit the scene this afternoon.