French authorities have announced 420 arrests following wildfires that scorched more than 300,000 acres across the country this summer, causing more damage in France than at any time since World War Two.

With records indicating that nine out of 10 French wildfires are started by humans, the government in Paris is focusing on attributing blame, even as it faces criticism over its preparedness for the blazes.

Key details regarding the legal actions and suspects include:

Arrests: The interior ministry reported 420 arrests of individuals suspected of starting fires deliberately or accidentally, including 166 minors. Pending Trial: A 23-year-old man faces up to 15 years in prison and a €150,000 (£128,000) fine if convicted of deliberately starting 10 fires in five days in the Var region.

Recent Sentences: A man received a three-year jail term for starting three fires in the Raon-L'Étape forest in the Vosges region. Other Cases: Reports indicate jail terms were also given to a homeless man and an individual with severe autism for throwing cigarette butts.

Defence lawyer Muriel Gestas described the volume of arrests as excessive and doubted many would lead to convictions. Newspaper Le Monde raised questions about the thoroughness of police investigations given the rapid timeframe, noting that official silence on specific charges prevents comparison with previous years.

In response, Bordeaux prosecutor Renaud Gaudeul defended the firm approach, stating that throwing cigarette butts or lighting barbecues in wooded areas meets the criteria for endangering lives during drought conditions.

Investigating officer Eric Dufayet explained that investigators trace fire origin points by mapping vegetation edges, which often form a V-shape. Experts note that deliberate arson accounts for only a small fraction of blazes, with most being accidental sparks from construction, faulty electrical gear, barbecues, or cigarettes.

Michel Lejoyeux, a professor of psychiatry at Paris 7 University, categorized fire starters into three groups: careless people, those seeking financial benefit, and pyromaniacs. Gestas added that motives among accused firefighters could include wanting to act as saviours or earning tax-free overtime.

Amid forecasts of an upcoming heatwave, President Emmanuel Macron stated that national priority should remain on unity, rebuilding forests, and adapting to climate change before reviewing past actions.