Hills of Florence on fire, 3 choppers in action

FLORENCE, ITALY – A fire developed in a village called Lastra, in the area of Careggi in Florence, hitting wild olive trees very receptive due to high temperature and drought. Many homes and the hotel Villa Le Rondini were evacuated as a precaution.

The proximity of many homes (the area is near to via Bolognese) suggested the Fire Department of Florence to apply immediately to the Operations Centre of Civil Protection: an helicopter is working from 2,30 pm. 

The Florence Fire Department have also required the intervention of a police helicopter from Bologna and Pistoia. Attention to the situation is recorded by the National Civil Protection, which is kept constantly informed and it is ready to use a Canadair plane to protect homes in the area.

In the afternoon another fire was also developed in Bagno a Ripoli, south of Florence: ten hectares of forest were burnt. In the night the two firestorms was under control.