A superficial and irresponsible gesture caused a large forest fire in Santa Caterina Valfurva, in the province of Sondrio. According to reconstructions, four young English tourists threw some firecrackers along the path at the entrance to the Forni valley, in a particularly arid area. The sparks triggered the first flames which, fueled by the wind, spread rapidly, devouring over ten hectares of forest.
The fire affected the area above the Fonte car park and continued to burn for hours, requiring a massive intervention by the firefighters and forest firefighting teams. Two helicopters from the Lombardy Region carried out numerous drops of water taken from the nearby stream, while the extinguishing operations lasted a long time due to the gusts of wind that continued to fuel the outbreaks.
Those responsible have been identified: the complaint is filed
Investigations by the forestry police made it possible to quickly identify those responsible. The four young people, who arrived in Valfurva to participate in ski races, would have lit the firecrackers without the intention of causing a fire. However, the careless act had serious consequences. A complaint was filed against them at the Sondrio Prosecutor’s Office on charges of negligent forest fire.
The investigations confirmed that the fire started from the very point where the firecrackers had been thrown. In a few minutes the flames spread among the conifers, finding ideal terrain in the dry vegetation. The environmental damage was described as extensive, with a large portion of the forest compromised and an area made temporarily off limits for safety reasons.
In Lombardy there was an orange alert for the risk of fires
The episode fits into an already delicate context. Orange alerts had been issued in much of Lombardy due to the risk of fires, thanks to the combination of drought and wind. In the previous days, other outbreaks had been recorded between Valtellina and surrounding areas, with continuous interventions by emergency teams.
The weather conditions made it more difficult to contain the flames in Santa Caterina. Despite the incessant work, the fire continued to reactivate in several places, forcing rescuers to patrol the area even in the following hours. Local authorities have also ordered the closure of the path and car park affected by the fire.
Enough of this incivility
The Santa Caterina episode once again forcefully brings the theme of individual responsibility in the mountains to the fore. In fragile contexts such as woods and slopes, even an apparently banal gesture can turn into a real risk. Throwing a cigarette or, even worse, throwing firecrackers among the dry vegetation is not a simple distraction: it is a behavior that can trigger irreversible consequences in a few moments.
We remind you that the rules prohibit the lighting of fires, the use of open flames and any activity that could cause ignitions, especially in the woods or nearby. In addition to the immediate danger of fires, there also remains the problem of environmental incivility. All these objects contaminate the soil, release toxic substances and remain in the environment for years, leaving an invisible but persistent footprint.
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