by InTrieste
A large wildfire broke out Friday afternoon on the Karst Plateau near the municipality of Monrupino, prompting a large-scale firefighting operation as crews worked to prevent the flames from spreading toward nearby homes.
The fire began around 2:30 p.m., according to the Trieste Fire Brigade, which deployed multiple teams to the scene. Specialized wildland firefighting units from Trieste and Gorizia, firefighters from the Opicina station, a water tanker and a firefighting helicopter from the Venice-based aviation unit were involved in the response.
Additional resources were provided by the Friuli Venezia Giulia Regional Forestry Corps, Civil Protection volunteers and a regional firefighting helicopter. Two Slovenian firefighting aircraft also joined the effort, reflecting the cross-border cooperation often required in the Karst region.
During the operation, firefighters evacuated cattle from a stable that was threatened by the advancing flames. Working with the farmer, crews safely moved the animals to a secure area using an off-road vehicle before returning to firefighting efforts.
Authorities said crews remained on the scene Friday evening, with aerial and ground operations continuing to contain the fire and protect nearby properties. No injuries were immediately reported.
