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Two suspected teenage arsonists were in custody in the south of France today as “criminal activity” was blamed for fires that forced the evacuation of thousands of holidaymakers.

The 16-year-old alleged arsonists, who have not been identified, were in police cells in Martigues, between Marseille and Montpellier, preparing for another day of questioning.

They are thought to have set fire to parched shrubland on Tuesday, causing one of the blazes that have engulfed more than 15 square miles of countryside.

Renaud Muselier, president of the Provence regional council, told FranceInfo radio station that many of the fires were “of criminal origin” and the “activity of arsonists” had to be stopped.

France wildfires - In pictures 16 show all France wildfires - In pictures 1/16 Evacutaed tourists spend the night on the beach in Bormes les Mimosas Olivier Hertel 2/16 People enjoy the beach as they look at a forest fire in La Croix-Valmer, near Saint-Tropez Valery Hache/AFP/Getty Images 3/16 A fire burning the forest in Ortale di Biguglia, near Biguglia, on the French Mediterranean island of Corsica AFP/Getty Images 4/16 A firefighter tries to extinguish a fire burning in Artigues, southeastern France AFP/Getty Images 5/16 Firefighters spray water as they try to douse a fire near the village of Biguglia, Corsica island, Franc AP 6/16 A firefighter takes a break at the site of a wildfire near the village of Ortale, Corsica island, France AP 7/16 Smoke fills the sky as a Canadair firefighting plane releases water to extinguish a wildfire near Seillons, in the Var department, France REUTERS 8/16 People stand outside a house in the courtyard and look at a the smoke coming from fire burning a forest in Ortale di Biguglia, near Biguglia, on the French Mediterranean island of Corsica. AFP/Getty Images 9/16 The wreckage of a burnt down car following a forest fire in Ramatuelle, southern France AFP/Getty Images 10/16 Smoke fills the sky as flames from a wildfire burn trees near Seillons, in the Var department, France REUTERS 11/16 Smoke rising from a fire in Ortale di Biguglia, near Biguglia, on the French Mediterranean island of Corsica AFP/Getty Images 12/16 An anti-fire Canadair airplane drops water over a forest fire near the village of Ortale in Corsica, France AP 13/16 French Interior Minister Gerard Collomb (2nd right) speaks to Upper Corsica Police Chief Gerard Gavory (2nd left) after a flight in a helicopter during a visit to the firefighters working to fight the fire in Biguglia, on the French Mediterranean island of Corsica AFP/Getty Images 14/16 Evacutaed tourists spend the night on the beach in Bormes les Mimosas Olivier Hertel 15/16 Evacutaed tourists spend the night on the beach in Bormes les Mimosas Olivier Hertel 16/16 Evacutaed tourists spend the night on the beach in Bormes les Mimosas Olivier Hertel 1/16 Evacutaed tourists spend the night on the beach in Bormes les Mimosas Olivier Hertel 2/16 People enjoy the beach as they look at a forest fire in La Croix-Valmer, near Saint-Tropez Valery Hache/AFP/Getty Images 3/16 A fire burning the forest in Ortale di Biguglia, near Biguglia, on the French Mediterranean island of Corsica AFP/Getty Images 4/16 A firefighter tries to extinguish a fire burning in Artigues, southeastern France AFP/Getty Images 5/16 Firefighters spray water as they try to douse a fire near the village of Biguglia, Corsica island, Franc AP 6/16 A firefighter takes a break at the site of a wildfire near the village of Ortale, Corsica island, France AP 7/16 Smoke fills the sky as a Canadair firefighting plane releases water to extinguish a wildfire near Seillons, in the Var department, France REUTERS 8/16 People stand outside a house in the courtyard and look at a the smoke coming from fire burning a forest in Ortale di Biguglia, near Biguglia, on the French Mediterranean island of Corsica. AFP/Getty Images 9/16 The wreckage of a burnt down car following a forest fire in Ramatuelle, southern France AFP/Getty Images 10/16 Smoke fills the sky as flames from a wildfire burn trees near Seillons, in the Var department, France REUTERS 11/16 Smoke rising from a fire in Ortale di Biguglia, near Biguglia, on the French Mediterranean island of Corsica AFP/Getty Images 12/16 An anti-fire Canadair airplane drops water over a forest fire near the village of Ortale in Corsica, France AP 13/16 French Interior Minister Gerard Collomb (2nd right) speaks to Upper Corsica Police Chief Gerard Gavory (2nd left) after a flight in a helicopter during a visit to the firefighters working to fight the fire in Biguglia, on the French Mediterranean island of Corsica AFP/Getty Images 14/16 Evacutaed tourists spend the night on the beach in Bormes les Mimosas Olivier Hertel 15/16 Evacutaed tourists spend the night on the beach in Bormes les Mimosas Olivier Hertel 16/16 Evacutaed tourists spend the night on the beach in Bormes les Mimosas Olivier Hertel

Marion Manent, whose family trailer homes were among some 200 burned in La Londe-les-Maures, in the Var, said “someone is certainly responsible”, adding that she viewed the arsonists as “potential killers”.

It came as British tourists were among thousands who spent a second night on beaches in the Var, as fires raged in the hills above them. Actress Dame Joan Collins was among those evacuated from St Tropez on Monday night.