All it takes is a moment, a superficial and irresponsible gesture, and a forest can become a fire trap. This is what happened in Madonna di Campiglio in the early afternoon of Easter Monday, where a fire broke out under the chairlift in Genziana Alta, probably caused by a cigarette thrown into space from the chairlift without being put out and ending up on the ground. A behavior that not only pollutes the environment, but puts people, plants and vegetation at risk.
The flames began to spread among dry brushwood, fed by the part of the ground not covered by snow. Within minutes a column of smoke became visible along the runway, as the fire advanced towards drier areas. The presence of snow along part of the route fortunately slowed down the spread, but the flames still began to spread in the driest points.
The fire under the chairlift and the immediate alarm
Reports arrived quickly from skiers and lift operators, who noticed smoke rising from the edge of the slope. Several teams of volunteer firefighters intervened on site, supported by units arriving from nearby areas. The operators reached the area with quads and snowmobiles, essential means for moving quickly along the slopes and in difficult to reach areas.
In the meantime, a support helicopter also took off from Trento, used to monitor the evolution of the front from above and coordinate operations. Also present were the police and forestry personnel, involved in checking and managing the safety of the area. The speed of the intervention prevented the fire from spreading towards the surrounding woods, a scenario that could have caused much more serious consequences.
Flames contained and area made safe
Thanks to the coordinated action of the teams, the fire was contained quickly. The operations focused first on containing the front and subsequently on clearing the land, to avoid possible flare-ups. Once the extinguishing operations were completed, the technicians started the final checks to precisely ascertain the origin of the fire and assess any responsibilities.
Stop throwing cigarettes into the environment!
An episode that brings the theme of individual responsibility in the mountains back to the center for the umpteenth time. Throwing a cigarette off a chairlift is not only rude, but dangerous and potentially devastating behavior. In just a few seconds you risk causing environmental damage, rescue costs and dangers for those on the slopes.
In addition to the fire risk, it is an act of environmental incivility: cigarette butts abandoned in the mountains contaminate the soil and remain in the environment for years. This time the fire was stopped in time. But the image of a fire starting from a cigarette butt remains: a small gesture, but with enormous consequences.
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