In response to the increase in fires in the area around the Court of Sciaccaa series of government and local bodies signed an important protocol yesterday morning, 22 May 2024, at the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Sciacca.
The initiative aims to intensify investigations and preventive measures against forest fires and controlled fires, especially in view of the summer season.
The protocol was signed by the Public Prosecutor of Sciacca, the Prefect of Trapani, the Vicar of the Prefect of Agrigento, and other representatives of local and regional authorities, including the Provincial Commanders of the Fire Brigade of Agrigento and Trapani and the Departmental Forestry Inspectors.
The document establishes common lines of action and homogeneous investigation procedures to deal with the risk of fires in the area.
This agreement comes at a critical time, considering adverse weather conditions, land use for grazing and agricultural practices such as debbio increase the risk of fires.
Furthermore, the region is known for its rich biodiversity and protected areas, making fire prevention and management even more crucial.
The protocol also emphasizes the importance of collaboration between Municipalities to monitor and survey the areas affected by fires, following article 10 of Law 353/2000, which prohibits the reconversion of burned forest and pasture areas for at least fifteen years.
Other preventive measures recalled include the ban on lighting fires near woods or bushy land from May 15 to October 31, the obligation for land owners to maintain safety zones and the creation of fire avenues.
Furthermore, the decree of the President of the Sicilian Region n. 297 of 2008 is transposed into municipal regulations to further strengthen safety and prevention measures against fires. These include clearing brushwood and dry vegetation from agricultural land and creating buffer zones to isolate flammable materials from risk areas.
With the signing of this protocol, Sciacca and the surrounding municipalities take a decisive step towards a more effective and coordinated management of fire-related emergencies, underlining the importance of prevention and inter-agency collaboration to protect the environment and ensure public safety .
