by InTrieste
Authorities said the most critical phase of the wildfire that broke out near Padriciano on Saturday has passed, although the fire remains active and crews continue to monitor the area as high temperatures persist across the region.
The blaze, which burned approximately 25 hectares of land, had raised concerns over the possible evacuation of self-sufficient residents at the Ieralla nursing home. Regional officials said that evacuation was ultimately not required.
Regional Civil Protection Councillor Riccardo Riccardi visited the facility on Monday to meet with its management and praised the coordinated response of emergency services.
“Once again, the coordinated emergency system worked effectively,” Riccardi said, thanking the regional forestry corps, firefighters, Civil Protection volunteers and all personnel involved in the operation.
According to regional authorities, the response included 133 Civil Protection volunteers from 18 municipalities and four volunteer associations. Two regional helicopters carried out 319 water drops, while an Italian Army helicopter from the Rigel Regiment based in Casarsa della Delizia completed an additional eight.
Officials said surveillance of the affected area will continue in the coming days, warning that the ongoing heatwave is expected to maintain conditions favorable to wildfire flare-ups.
Riccardi also provided updates on other wildfire incidents across Friuli Venezia Giulia. Cleanup operations continued on Sunday in Malborghetto Valbruna, where a wildfire sparked by lightning on Friday involved 24 Civil Protection volunteers from Malborghetto, Camporosso, Ugovizza and Valbruna. Meanwhile, monitoring operations concluded Sunday evening following a woodland fire in San Michele del Carso, in the municipality of Savogna d’Isonzo.
