Eleven people have been acquitted in a landmark trial into the devastating wildfires that hit central Portugal in 2017. The suspects were all cleared of negligent homicide and “negligent offence to physical integrity” after months of proceedings. Among the accused on trial were the municipal fire brigade commander, local elected officials, and employees of electricity distribution and road maintenance companies. The forest fires in Pedrógão Grande in the central region of Leiria killed 66 people and injured 250 others in June 2017. An estimated 24,000 hectares of land were burned, and more tha…