A 35-year-old woman from Holargos, northeastern Athens, was yesterday remanded in custody after being charged with starting a large forest fire in the nearby suburb of Papagou last August as well as several other blazes.

The fire that broke out last August 27, a few days after the fatal blazes that ravaged the Peloponnese and Evia, did not result in any deaths but razed forestland on the slopes of Mount Hymettus.

The woman is also believed to have started several other fires, including a blaze on Mount Hymettus last month.

After local residents described her to police, the woman was questioned and her replies to officers were reportedly full of inconsistencies.

It is unclear if the alleged arson attacks were carried out with the aim of clearing land for future construction.