The police force communiqué said the investigation followed “news reports that came to light on 14 August in the regional press”.

The articles spoke about “fireworks being launched at a private party in Câmara de Lobos” when there was a complete prohibition on pyrotechnics because of the fires that had been sweeping across large parts of the island since the 8th of the month”.

Madeira’s ‘Diário de Notícias’ newspaper said that during that weekend fireworks had been launched at the wedding celebrations of a fireman, attended by the commander of Câmara de Lobos fire department, despite the prohibition issued by the police.

The wild fires that devastated Madeira last week, mainly around the capital of Funchal, caused three deaths and tens of millions in damage to property and infrastructures.