by InTrieste
Friuli Venezia Giulia declared a regional emergency Friday as firefighters and emergency crews continued to battle wildfires in the mountainous area around Mount Amariana, near Amaro.
The emergency decree was signed by Regional President Massimiliano Fedriga and Civil Protection Councillor Riccardo Riccardi. Authorities also extended an existing drought emergency from the region’s mountain and foothill areas to the entire territory.
The regional government has allocated €1.7 million for the response, including €1.12 million for the wildfire emergency and a further €580,000 for measures related to drought.
“We are facing a complex situation that should neither be underestimated nor dramatized,” Riccardi said during an update on the response. He said authorities were deploying available resources to protect communities and the territory.
The fire on Mount Amariana, which began after a lightning strike at high altitude on Saturday, has spread over roughly 450 hectares, with more than 100 hectares burned in the municipality of Amaro. Officials attributed its expansion to strong winds, high temperatures and the mountainous terrain.
Three aircraft and five helicopters are currently being used in the firefighting operation, with resources rotated according to operational needs. The fleet includes a Canadair firefighting aircraft capable of carrying about 6,000 liters of water and two Air Tractor aircraft supplied by Slovenia under a regional cooperation agreement, each carrying about 3,000 liters.
Three regional helicopters are also operating alongside a helicopter from Elifriulia and an Italian Army aircraft based in Casarsa. Around 30 Civil Protection volunteers are working in the Amaro area.
Authorities have created water collection points along the Tagliamento River between Tolmezzo and Amaro to help helicopters replenish their supplies.
The latest fire is part of a broader increase in wildfire activity across Friuli Venezia Giulia. Authorities have dealt with 60 fires since the beginning of the year. Between June 18 and July 13, 17 fires were recorded, compared with 35 between July 14 and Aug. 14.
Since the emergency phase began, about 680 Civil Protection volunteers have contributed roughly 2,200 person-days of work, supported by around 300 vehicles and more than 360 flight hours.
Officials have urged residents and visitors to stay away from affected areas and avoid interfering with firefighting operations. Authorities have also asked hang-glider and paragliding pilots to remain grounded, warning that aircraft in the area could pose a serious risk to firefighting crews. Provincial Road 125 has been closed to prevent tourists and onlookers from entering the area.
Air quality is also being monitored. The regional environmental agency, ARPA, has recorded isolated exceedances of air-quality thresholds in Imponzo, a hamlet of Tolmezzo, as well as in Zuglio, Arta Terme and Sutrio.
Authorities said further public health measures would depend on daily average levels of fine particulate matter. Riccardi met Friday with the mayors of Tolmezzo and Amaro to coordinate the response.
The regional government is also monitoring weather forecasts, with officials hoping that rain expected in the coming days could help contain the fires and ease the drought conditions.
“The closeness of the institutions to the affected communities is total,” Riccardi said. “We will continue to use every necessary tool,” while expressing hope that the expected precipitation would provide some relief.
