Lamallari warns about fires: Arson is classified as a crime, with up to 15 years in prison under the Penal Code

Interior Minister Besfort Lamallari has urged citizens to exercise maximum caution and a sense of responsibility to prevent fires, stressing that every blaze caused by human action endangers lives, property, forests and natural resources, and also constitutes a criminal offense punishable by severe penalties. In a message on social media, Lamallari said protecting the country from flames is a shared duty.

“Caution! Arson is not carelessness, but a crime punishable by imprisonment. Every fire caused by human hands is a threat to life, property, forests and the common good. Greater civic responsibility and readiness are needed to protect every citizen and avoid disasters,” Minister Lamallari said.

He also recalled that the latest changes to the Penal Code have brought a clear tightening of punitive measures for arson, depending on the circumstances and the consequences it causes.

When arson is intentional, the sentence ranges from 5 to 8 years in prison if it is committed during the hot season, in conditions that favor the spread of flames, or near inhabited areas; from 4 to 10 years in prison if it affects protected areas, cultural heritage sites, places of worship, cultural monuments, or critical infrastructure; while it ranges from 7 to 15 years in prison when it is committed with the aim of changing the category or designated use of the land.

In his message, Lamallari pointed out that behind every fire lies a heavy human and material burden. “An act of carelessness or a deliberate action mobilizes hundreds of people, dozens of vehicles and helicopters to protect lives, homes and nature. Every fire leaves losses for nature, the community and the generations to come. Protecting Albania from fires begins with the responsibility of each of us,” the Interior Minister stressed. His appeal was for citizens’ cooperation in respecting fire prevention rules, while every case of arson will be treated with zero tolerance.