Viterbo News 24 – The Region allocates 8 million against fires, but is there prevention?

The Region allocates 8 million against fires, but is there prevention?

Viterbo is among the areas at very high risk: ‘Citizens should report fires and unclean fields’

by Fabio Tornatore

VITERBO – The Lazio Region’s plan to fight the forest fires that every year eat up hectares and hectares of countryside, fertile land and woods will last a month longer than usual. In fact, it will end on October 15, instead of mid-September, a sign that the persistence of hot temperatures and the lack of rain also increases the risk of fires. The funds allocated this year amount to 7 million 950 thousand euros, of the 20 set aside for the three-year period 2023-25. The ’emergency’ machine is already at work, with men and vehicles committed to fighting the flames. But what work should be done in the rest of the year to limit the danger of fires?

The municipal plans and ordinances, both in the smaller villages of Tuscia and in the larger towns, apparently exist, but it often happens that you pass by land left uncultivated, with tall grass or even rubbish. The fines for uncleaned land are small, from 50 to 200 euros. Furthermore, in the Tuscia areas, the woods often do not get the attention they deserve, with undergrowth often left uncultivated and wild, with great risks of starting fires and spreading the flames.

‘Citizens should report uncleaned land or situations that can create danger’ explains a Civil Protection volunteer ‘and above all the sighting of a fire. It often rains in patches, here it rains and in another country it doesn’t, so it becomes difficult to spot fires in such strange weather. We have a very busy period ahead of us, like every year.’

In the classification of municipalities at risk of fire, there are many in the Viterbo area at ‘very high risk’: from Blera and Barbarano Romano to Vetralla and Viterbo, with the entire coastal area. At ‘high’ risk we find the municipalities in the Tiber valley area, such as Bagnoregio or Bomarzo, or Capranica, or the band of municipalities of Carbognano or Caprarola. No municipality in Tuscia is classified as ‘medium’ or ‘low’ risk.

The almost 8 million allocated by the Lazio Region for this summer are divided as follows: oover 3,800,000 for the forest fire-fighting air service, 2,850,000 for the agreement with the Fire Brigade, 300,000 for the agreement with the Carabinieri for forest protection etcapproximately 1,000,000 for the long-term rental of operational vehicles. In the entire regional territory the regional device will be composed of 500 operational Volunteer Organizations, 4,200 operational volunteers with specialization, 300 pick ups with fire prevention module, 67 tankers, 120 multipurpose vehicles with firefighting module, 105 drones with 100 pilots, 7 helicopters.