INFERNO: The fire in Estepona’s Peñas Blancas area, pictured last night

A MAN who tried to torch a hornet nest has been arrested over the wildfire currently raging in Estepona.

The French national, who rented a house nearby the fire in the Peñas Blancas area, was cuffed yesterday evening.

He is believed to have attempted to smoke out the insects and is alleged to be directly involved in the fire.

AIRBORNE: A plane carrying water returns from the sea and flies over Estepona towards the fire this morning (credit: Marion Franks)

The suspect is currently being held in a police cell and is awaiting a court date.

It comes after a fire broke out on the edge of the Sierra Bermeja park at around 12:30pm yesterday.

Last night as many as 170 firefighters were battling the blaze, while Estepona Mayor Jose Maria Garcia Urbano was coordinating emergency teams nearby.

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