Florence heatwave linked to transport fires as red alert remains in place

The intense heat affecting Florence and much of Tuscany continued on Saturday and Sunday, with authorities maintaining a red weather alert for high temperatures. While investigators have not linked the incidents directly to the heat, two separate fires involving public transport vehicles occurred within a few hours of each other in the Florence metropolitan area.

Shortly before midnight, tram service on Florence’s T1 line towards Scandicci was suspended after smoke and flames were reported from the braking system of a tram near Piazza Paolo Uccello, west of the city centre.

According to emergency services, the driver quickly evacuated passengers and activated safety procedures. Firefighters cooled the overheated braking equipment and inspected the rest of the vehicle. Power to the tram line was temporarily disconnected while crews worked at the scene.

An ambulance crew and officers from Florence’s Municipal Police were also deployed. No injuries were reported.

The interruption affected the T1 line, which connects Florence’s Santa Maria Novella railway station with Scandicci, one of the largest municipalities in the metropolitan area.

Bus catches fire in Scandicci

Earlier on Saturday evening, at around 7 p.m., a bus belonging to Tuscany’s regional public transport operator, Autolinee Toscane, caught fire while parked outside the company’s depot in Via Newton, Scandicci.

The vehicle was not carrying passengers at the time and nobody was injured.

Firefighters extinguished the blaze, while local police managed traffic around the area. Several parked cars near the bus were damaged after being reached by the flames.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation. The road was temporarily closed to allow clean-up operations and safety checks.

Heatwave continues across Tuscany

The incidents came as Florence remains under one of the most intense heatwaves of the year so far. Temperatures have remained well above seasonal averages, with authorities urging residents and visitors to avoid prolonged exposure during the hottest hours of the day, stay hydrated and pay particular attention to older people and vulnerable groups.

Weather forecasts indicate that very high temperatures are expected to continue across much of Tuscany in the coming days, prolonging difficult conditions for transport infrastructure, outdoor workers and emergency services.

While it is too early to establish whether the two transport incidents were influenced by the extreme temperatures, they occurred during a period of exceptional heat that has placed additional stress on vehicles, infrastructure and public services across the region.

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