2 dozen firebugs, one was a volunteer firefighter who’d allegedly set at least 7 blazes.
183 criminal investigations (many for poor fire safety, eg discarded lit cigarettes, perhaps trash fires and controlled burns that got out of hand).
There were fires that were maliciously ignited and the human factor in many others cannot be denied.
It happens in California as well (firebug forestry freaks and illegal immigrant campfires that get out of hand).
I do not know if this article is correct or simply bull sierra. If the majority of the fires are in isolated areas it is probably of natural causes. If these fires are near human habitation it is probably arson or stupidity.