CALTANISSETTA – Preventing and combating fires was with this intent coordination action started in the Prefecture in view of the approaching summer season and the connotation of the territory characterized by the presence of numerous and large wooded areas.
“An action of synergistic planning among all interested parties capable of preventing the triggering and spread of the lines” as underlined by prefect Chiara Armenia during the first meeting held in the Civil Protection room of Government Palace.
Among those present, in addition to the mayors of the Nissena province, the police commissioner Pinuccia Albertina Agnello, the provincial commander of the Carabinieri Col. Vincenzo Pascale, the provincial commander of the Guardia di Finanza Col. Stefano Gesuelli, the provincial commander of the Fire Brigade Michele Burgio, the manager of the departmental forestry inspectorate, Salvatore Bonsangue, the representative of the Extraordinary Commissioner of the Free Municipal Consortium of Caltanissetta, Giuseppe Lunetta, and the representatives of the regional department of Civil protection.
Fire risk which risks worsening further this year
Fire risk which this year risks worsening further, not only due to the forecast of very high temperatures, but also due to the water crisis affecting the regional territory and which significantly affects the availability of resources for putting out fires.
Among the actions to be implemented, the Prefect drew the mayors’ attention to the need to plan all essential activities for the reduction of the risk of ignition and spread of flames, in particular it recommended urgently planning the weeding operations of roadsides, parks, villas, as well as the cleaning of vegetation close to wooded areas and strategic areas such as hospitals or residences for the elderly and all areas close to the perimeter strips of anthropic areas.
Actions to minimize fire risk
The Prefect also urged the Municipalities to proceed with theupdating of municipal civil protection plans and underlined the importance of the adoption by local authorities of ordinances aimed at the population to minimize the risk of fires with particular attention to the cleaning of private land, an essential preventive action to reduce the risk of ignition and spread of flames. Ordinance which must be followed by control activities by the municipal police to ensure compliance with the consequent imposition of sanctions for violators.
The need to provide for the maintenance of water supply points was also highlighted. Another action to be implemented is raising awareness among residents of the areas most exposed to the risk of fire spread on the cleaning of the surrounding areas and towards the entire community to collaborate by reporting any type of outbreak to the single emergency number at 112.
Mayors were also recommended to involve voluntary associations with the patrolling the areas most at risk on alert days.
The second operational meeting in the prefecture has been set for May 7th in order to proceed with a mapping of the territory and the consequent identification of the areas most exposed to fire danger so as to be able to calibrate the most appropriate preventive strategy for each to reduce the risk of ignition to a minimum of fires.
