A judge in the province of Río Negro recently upheld the charges and pre-trial detention of Nicolás Heredia, a 31-year-old man from Senillosa, Neuquén. Heredia was arrested on February 6 in El Bolsón, accused of his alleged participation in the wildfires that have devastated around 3,500 hectares. Prosecutors Francisco Arrién and Martín Lozada presented the charges, while Judge Ricardo Calcagno supported the decision for one month of preventive detention while the investigation progresses.
Heredia's situation is pending the results of an examination of a bottle with flammable liquid found in his possession. He was detained by two neighbors who reported him acting suspiciously, and they testified as witnesses. Heredia's defense argues that he approached with food for the firefighters and joined as a volunteer in the firefighting efforts.
Relatives and friends of Heredia have requested his release, emphasizing his hardworking and humble character. His mother, Sandra Gramajo, expressed her discontent with her son's detention, mentioning he was jailed for being of low income. In a radio interview, Gramajo emphasized that her son is very depressed about the situation, as, in her view, he was only trying to help during a critical time with the wildfires.
