Fire, fire Forest fire in Bitsch VS was caused by gunshots

An unknown perpetrator is believed to have used a long gun to cause the forest fire in Bitsch and Riederalp in Valais in the summer of 2023. These are the results of an investigation published on Monday by the Valais public prosecutor's office and cantonal police.

The conductor cables of the main power line at the Massa power station in Bitsch were deliberately shot at several times, according to a communiqué. Another shot severed the copper wire of the branch line at a pylon, which led to a short circuit.

The overheating caused by the short circuit led to the conductor cable breaking and falling to the ground, the statement added. The attempt to switch on the line manually from the factory in accordance with regulations in order to check the short circuit is believed to have triggered the forest fire.

The forest fire started on July 17, 2023 and was largely contained almost three weeks later. The forest fire affected an area of 132 hectares. Around three quarters of the trees in the affected forest area burned.

SDA