To learn more about what has caused the recent fires in Montesarchio, 50 km northeast of Naples, a research team has set up cameras around the municipality.
But no spontaneous fire was captured in the picture.
It was on Thursday that the researchers went through the material from the cameras and saw a person come walking into the picture, look around and then bend down to the roadside and light a fire on the dry grass.
The suspect, a farmer from the area, was tracked down by police and could be arrested the same day, reports AP.
See the pictures from the researchers' cameras in the video above.