The suspect is a petty officer stationed at a fuel depot. He was arrested by officials after he admitted to accidentally starting the fire to smoke out wasps that had made a nest on a fuel pipe, the Athens news agency Kathimerini reported Friday.

The unidentified man stands accused of arson through negligence for the fire that erupted in Dervenohoria, Viotia prefecture on Tuesday.

The fire threatened homes in the village of Panakton, as well as facilities belonging to the munitions manufacturer Pyrkal.