High Court upholds acquittal of man accused of starting Bohemian Switzerland fire

Prague’s High Court has upheld the acquittal of former volunteer ranger Jiří Lobotka, who was accused of starting the massive wildfire in Bohemian Switzerland National Park in 2022. The appeals court rejected a prosecutor’s appeal, confirming a lower-court ruling from January. The ruling is definitive.

The courts said Lobotka’s guilt had not been proven. He initially confessed to starting the fire twice, but later withdrew his confessions. He was taking anti-depressants and had spent time in a mental home.

The wildfire broke out near Hřensko in July 2022, forcing the evacuation of around 500 people and involving some 6,000 firefighters. The operation lasted 21 days and caused an estimated 270 million Czech crowns in damage.