(Ecofin Agency) - According to the Algerian Conservator of Forests, Ali Mahmoudi, the recent fires that spread in the Bejaïa wilaya, 220km from Algiers, are caused by men, not nature. The men, the official says, work for the "mafia du foncier" or land mafia.

Talking about the recent fire that broke out last Friday, in the Bir Slam, the conservator told El Watan: "Over the past two days, the weather has been cool, therefore this fire could not have been due to heatwave. In fact, it started again, miraculously, around 2PM, though it was put off the day before. This could have only been made by people involved in land operations. The same day, a complaint was filed against an unknown individual at the anti-arson security office".

Another reason to consider the fire as a crime is that regions affected host various real estate projects.