The collaboration between the Sicilian Region and the Fire Brigade against forest fires on the island has been renewed through regional funding to strengthen additional firefighting teams.
The agreement has been signed which will remain operational until Friday 13 September for actions both to prevent and combat fires. The financial commitment for the administration is 2.5 million euros.
“We have extended the duration of the firefighting campaign – – says President Renato Schifani – from 15 May to 31 October and we can count, as a region, on 120 new vehicles and 190 stations from the Forestry Corps and on over 300 teams of Civil Protection volunteers with an additional supply of a further 70 vehicles.
In the meantime, the project of the single regional control room for emergencies continues which from next year will unite the Civil Protection and Forestry Corps forces, also with the use of cutting-edge systems for monitoring the territory with a synergistic prevention perspective ”.
In 2023 there were 14 additional teams involved, this year they become 19 with a workforce of 116 people.
In particular, the new stations activated will be in Ragalna (Catania), Piazza Armerina (Enna), Santo Stefano di Camastra (Messina), Custonaci and Pantelleria (Trapani) which are added to those in Agrigento and Cammarata, Caltanissetta, Catania, Enna, Messina and Vulcano, Palermo, Montemaggiore Belsito and Ustica, Ragusa, Syracuse, Trapani and Favignana.
All units, made up of five elements each, will be operational from 8am to 8pm, while in Ustica, Vulcano and Pantelleria 24 hours a day (from 1st to 31st August).
Among the objectives of the agreement are to limit the onset of damage to the natural heritage and assets, to contribute to the safety of the community and to strengthen the coordination structures involved, in particular the permanent unified operations room of the Region.
The firefighting operations will be coordinated by the Forestry Corps and the Fire Brigade with the support of the volunteer firefighting teams trained, equipped and subsidized, also for consumption costs, by the regional Civil Protection department. These teams will be able to intervene directly in cases of small outbreaks.
Added to the ground interventions are those by air with the use of ten light helicopters rented by the Region and one in agreement with the Carabinieri which are located in strategic areas and will be able to obtain supplies in the 50 new supply tanks.
They will also have the support, if necessary, of the national air fleet: Canadair and heavy helicopters.
An important prevention action is that of monitoring and patrolling the areas at risk carried out by additional teams of Civil Protection volunteers on routes indicated by the Forestry Corps or the mayors.
Various prefectures and police headquarters have organized monitoring and surveillance activities in the areas at risk on the “red flag” days.
