Former volunteer ranger acquitted of Czech National Park wildfire

The Regional Court in Ústí nad Labem ruled that former volunteer park ranger Jiří Lobotka was not guilty of causing the massive 2022 wildfire in Czech Switzerland National Park but convicted him of starting smaller fires in 2023. Lobotka received a two-year prison sentence and was released from custody. The verdict is not final, as the prosecutor immediately appealed. The court found no direct or indirect evidence linking Lobotka to the major wildfire, emphasizing inconsistencies in his confession during psychiatric treatment. Judge Roman Felzmann stated that the burden of proof was not met, leaving reasonable doubt. Lobotka was also ordered to undergo compulsory treatment and pay damages for the smaller fires.