by InTrieste
Firefighters, regional forestry crews and Civil Protection teams worked through the night to contain a vegetation fire burning between the villages of Padriciano and Gropada on the Karst plateau outside Trieste.
The wildfire, which broke out early Saturday afternoon, continued to demand a large-scale response overnight as crews focused on preventing the flames from reaching homes and a nearby nursing home. The fire remained under close observation as emergency personnel maintained protective positions around the affected area.
The Italian fire brigade reinforced its overnight operations by recalling additional personnel. Teams from the Opicina fire station, three firefighting units, a water tanker and senior officers from the Trieste headquarters remained on the scene. Drone pilots from the Regional Unmanned Aircraft Unit also carried out an initial aerial survey to map the extent of the burned area.
With daylight on Sunday morning, aerial firefighting operations resumed. Three aircraft — two helicopters operated by the Friuli Venezia Giulia Civil Protection service and Drago, a helicopter from the Venice Fire Brigade’s aviation unit — began water-dropping missions under the coordination of the Director of Fire Suppression Operations.
Ground crews also continued their efforts, with wildfire specialists, firefighters from the Opicina station, additional response teams, a water tanker and senior fire officials working to contain the blaze and prevent further spread. Authorities continue to monitor the situation as firefighting operations remain underway.
