Around 3,000 Residents Evacuated in Tuscany as Winds Fuel Forest Fire

Vigili del Fuoco

The fire, active since 28 April, has spread over 800ha on Mount Faeta, straddling the provinces of Lucca and Pisa.

Italian firefighters were on Friday continuing efforts to contain a large forest fire in Tuscany, which has been burning for several days and has been intensified by strong winds, forcing the evacuation of around 3,000 residents.

The blaze, which began on Tuesday, has spread across more than 800 hectares on Mount Faeta, straddling the provinces of Lucca and Pisa, according to the mayor of the nearby town of San Giuliano Terme.

Mayor Matteo Cecchelli told public broadcaster RAI that the fire was likely caused by the burning of olive tree prunings that spread out of control.

Overnight, strong winds further fuelled the flames, prompting precautionary evacuations, Tuscany regional president Eugenio Giani said in a statement.

Three Canadair firefighting ‌planes, ⁠which scoop water from lakes, rivers or seas before dropping it on fires, had been deployed to support ground staff, the national fire department said on X.

"The ⁠fire is still very much active," the deputy mayor of Lucca, Fabio Barsanti, said in a Facebook video.
"All ⁠efforts are being made to contain as much as possible the perimeter of the fire, but ⁠we cannot relax or make predictions because we are at the mercy of the wind," he said.

Source: Reuters



PUKMEDIA