Man to face trial for accidentally starting French wildfire

A man who accidentally set off one of this summer's most devastating wildfire in the south of France is to stand trial, prosecutors announced on Monday.

A helicopter drops water on a fire at Carros, near Nice, France in July Reuters/Eric Gaillard

The man, who is mute, started the fire when using a grinder on metalwork at his holiday home in Lucéram in Provence during the 15 August holiday weekend.

He suffered minor burns on his arms trying to put it out and was hospitalised.

About 150 hectares of brush and forest went up in flames and it took 300 firefighters, helped by waterbombers, 48 hours to put it out.

Public prosecutor Jean-Michel Prêtre dubbed his behaviour "just criminal".