A number of fires were hitting arid areas of Italy, destroying over 1,000 hectares of forests, local media reported on Tuesday.

On Tuesday, the Pollino national park, the largest one in Italy was on fire over a one-kilometer-long front, president of the park Domenico Pappaterra was quoted as saying by local media.

Pappaterra said the flames especially risked to destroy the Loricate pines, the symbol of the park, adding the fire were caused by "human hand" with "primers" found in various places.

A 40-year-old man was arrested in the Pollino area while trying to set fire on a forest along with his underage son.

On Monday, a wildfire fed by high winds seared some 1,000 hectares in northeastern Sardinia island, forcing the evacuation of around 800 tourists and injuring a few firefighters.

In southern Sicily island, the local authorities sent planes and helicopters of the national anti-forest fire air fleet to fight roughly 100 hectares of forest burning.

According to forest police, some 550 fires were reported in Italy over the last few days alone. The number of fires since the beginning of 2012 was up by 76 percent compared to the same period last year, while the burnt area has increased by 57 percent.

Dry weather conditions in the country, with shortage of rain in several southern and central zones, have largely contributed to the fires.