Particularly high summer temperatures, often accompanied by strong sirocco or south-westerly winds, the abandonment and neglect of agricultural areas and, most of all, the criminal action that cyclically triggers fires for exclusively economic reasons: these are all causes that determine the fires that devastate Sicily and the province of Syracuse every year.
Hence the union ordinance which imposes very specific rules not only from 15 May to 31 October 2024, but also during alert periods to minimize the risk of fires starting and spreading.
It is absolutely forbidden to light fires of any kind; of combustion of agricultural and forestry plant residues even if deriving from mowing, pruning or cleaning on site, as well as other natural agricultural or forestry material, plant waste both deriving from activities carried out by private individuals and agricultural companies.
It is forbidden, near woods and protected areas, agricultural and/or bushy land, along municipal, provincial, state roads, motorway and railway locations, to use open flame or electrical appliances that produce sparks; smoking, throwing matches, cigars and cigarettes; light fireworks, even on the occasion of solemn celebrations in areas other than those specifically identified and in any case without prior authorization; park vehicles on areas close to the presence of grass and dry vegetation.
The owners, tenants, tenants, managers, administrators of buildings, managers of tourist, artisanal and commercial structures, managers of building and road sites are obliged to carry out passive defense works for fire prevention, consisting of cleaning interventions, of reclamation and weeding of the relevant areas.
They are obliged to maintain the efficiency of the protection strips, i.e. to create a fire protection strip no less than ten meters wide, along the entire perimeter of the fund.
This protection band, for owners and/or managers and/or managers of campsites, tourist villages, farmhouses, hotels and accommodation facilities, residential centers extends to twenty metres.
The public bodies that own and/or are responsible for areas, roads and railways have the responsibility of cleaning the quays and embankments of the communication routes under their jurisdiction.
Maintenance of roadsides for fire prevention must be limited to the removal of dry plants, brambles or other flammable material.
Furthermore, throughout the year, it is forbidden for anyone to throw matches, cigars or cigarettes and any other type of lit or incandescent material from vehicles or otherwise leave them on the ground.
Administrative sanctions of no less than 5,000 euros and no more than 50,000 euros are envisaged for violators.
