“In Sardinia the number of fires And doubled compared to 2023″. The Environment Councilor of the Sardinia Region draws up a balance sheet at the beginning of the firefighting campaign, between staff shortages, deserted tenders for helicopters and serious drought. “From January 1st to June 10th we had 430 fires – Rosanna Laconi explains to Adnkronos -, while in the same period last year 204 were registered. The serious situation of Drought this year makes it easier for fires to spread”. The most affected areas were in the central-south of the island.
Lack of resources and personnel
Fires are increasing, but they remain there are few resources and personnel to turn them off. The Region has just published a new tender to find six more helicopters to include in its fleet: it is the fourth attempt, while the fire season has already begun. “Let’s hope it’s the right time, because we need it, but yesterday I attended the meeting at the National Department of Civil Protection, with Minister Musumeci, and I saw how many other Regions are in difficulty due to the tenders being abandoned – the member of the Todde Council explains to Adnkronos -. The market has changed, each Region must equip itself with its own fleet but there is less availability of vehicles, with companies that have gone abroad, and less availability of qualified pilots”.
“I also reminded Minister Musumeci of our particular conditions of isolation, only the national fleet can come to our aid – continues Laconi -. It must be taken into account, in fact, that we have had our fleet for many years and here in Sardinia the companies have undergone great training, but following the rules of the market we now have Italian fleets working in Chile and Brazil”.
While waiting for reinforcements, councilor Laconi shows the air forces in place to protect Sardinia. “While waiting for the 6 helicopter tender which has already been abandoned, at the moment we have 5 helicopters thanks to the tenders of the Forestry Corps, one Army helicopter, one from the Air Force and two Superpumas from the Civil Protection: one entered into service today in Fenosu ( Oristano) and the other in Alà dei Sardi (Sassari) – specifies Rosanna Laconi -. In Olbia there is only one Canadair and we are waiting for two more and we are also preparing the annual agreement with the Fire Brigade. I asked Minister Musumeci for the maximum possible support from the State and I urged that, in addition to the three Canadair in Olbia, they send us two Fire Bosses who can remain in Southern Sardinia”.
Furthermore, “The shortage of personnel in the Forestry Corps and in the Forestas agency must be resolved. We’ve been there for a couple of months, but we’re moving straight away – reveals Rosanna Laconi -. We have appointed the sole director of Forestas who had been missing for 5 years, without that figure it would not have been possible to start hiring and implementing the workforce”.
The importance of prevention
After all the problems concerning the fire prevention campaign, the Councilor for the Environment of the Sardinia Region focuses on the causes of the problem: the importance of prevention and gods right behaviors. “With the means we have, we are still able to intervene in a few minutes throughout the regional territory. But more than putting out the fire, we must avoid it – he adds -. Prevention is essential, citizens need to be prudent even in fires that may seem small and then suddenly degenerate. Considering climate change and drought, any inappropriate behavior of citizens plays an important role.”
Sardinia has just over one and a half million inhabitants, but in the summer it hosts hundreds of thousands of people: many more risks, but also many more eyes to keep watch. “Everyone must be a soldier and defender of their territory, both in behavior and in sighting – concludes Rosanna Laconi -. For any sighting, you must immediately call 1515, because everyone must participate in the control of the territory.”
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