Three days after the fire broke out in the PIP area of Airola, in the province of Benevento, the fire has not yet been completely extinguished and attention is growing for environmental data. In fact, the first Arpac findings highlight an overall concentration of dioxins, furans and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls equal to 0.28 pg/Nm³ I-TEQ, a value higher than the reference parameter of 0.15 pg/Nm³ I-TEQ used by the scientific community.
The flames, which broke out on August 31 in the Ecoenergy plant, affected an area of approximately 26 thousand square meters and caused the partial collapse of the structure. The Fire Brigade continues to operate on site, engaged in extinguishing residual fires, clearing away materials and removing rubble.
We talked about it here: Big fire in the industrial area of Airola (Benevento), a waste depot on fire: “barricade yourself in your house”
To reach the areas that have become inaccessible to the teams on the ground, a firefighting robot from the Avellino Command is also used, while the rescue device has been strengthened with tankers from Naples, Avellino and Caserta.
Meanwhile, monitoring of air quality continues. In addition to the sampler installed in the immediate vicinity of the fire, three other high-flow detectors were positioned in Arienzo, Bucciano and Rotondi.
What happened
The fire broke out on the afternoon of August 31st, around 4.17pm, in the Ecoenergy plant in via Carracciano, within the industrial area of Airola. The structure, used for the storage and treatment of waste, had already been subjected to judicial seizure.
In a few hours a dense column of black smoke rose above the Caudina Valley, making itself visible for kilometers away. The mayor of Airola Vincenzo Falzarano activated the Municipal Operations Center and invited residents of the areas most exposed to fumes to move away from their homes as a precaution.
The alarm quickly spread to nearby municipalities as well. In Montesarchio, San Martino Valle Caudina, Moiano and Paolisi, self-protection indications have been issued, with the invitation to stay at home, keep doors and windows closed and avoid outdoor activities.
The ASL Benevento also recommended turning off ventilation systems that draw air from outside, avoiding leaving clothing outdoors and carefully washing fruit and vegetables before consumption. In some areas, a temporary ban on the harvesting and consumption of fruit and vegetables has also been imposed.
On the investigative front, investigations remain underway to clarify the causes of the fire, with investigators not ruling out arson. At the same time, Legambiente Campania and Legambiente Valle Caudina have asked for full transparency on the results of environmental analyzes and a strengthening of controls on waste storage sites.
