Forest fire campaign 2024
The campaign starts on June 15 and ends on October 15
To launch the Forest fire campaign 2024, the Minister for Civil Protection and Sea Policies, Nello Musumeci, has provided the Regions, Autonomous Provinces, and relevant ministers with the usual document for the "Identification of the timing and recommendations for a more effective fight against forest fires, in urban-rural interface areas and the consequent risks." The aim is to take all necessary actions to prevent and manage this phenomenon.
The document, signed by the Minister on May 7, 2024, outlines the tasks, responsibilities, and steps to be taken by the relevant entities and administrations for effective action and coordination of the forces on the ground.
The Civil Protection Department coordinates the state's firefighting air fleet through the COAU and disseminates operational procedures to the Regions and Autonomous Provinces for requesting air assistance to support regional devices.
For 2024, Minister Musumeci, delegated by the President of the Council of Ministers, outlines recommendations for efficiently combating forest fires, interface fires, and associated risks addressed to Regions and Autonomous Provinces.
The recommendations outline the main areas for action by different System components to better handle the upcoming forest fire season. This is also taking into account the performance of the 2023 campaign, which, despite overall positive results, saw sudden increases in the number and size of fires towards the end. These factors resulted in the extension of the 2024 campaign until October 15.
Therefore, the recommendations outline the need to increase efforts in forecasting, prevention, planning, and active fighting against forest fires.
Regarding forecasting and prevention efforts, Regions and Autonomous Provinces should encourage using available information at the Decentralized Functional Centres. If not already in place, they should also promote the creation of a fire bulletin. This practice strengthens recognition, surveillance, warning, forest fire suppression, and civil protection activities. The forecast information can also be used to promote activities that inform the population about the risk levels and the appropriate behaviors to adopt. This includes creating materials dedicated to forest fire risk as part of the national communication campaign on good civil protection practices called "I don't take risks."
Regarding planning activities, administrations of the Regions and Autonomous Provinces are requested to annually review the Regional plan for the planning of forecasting, prevention, and active fight against forest fires. They are also asked to work with the Prefectures to assist Mayors in creating and updating civil protection plans at the municipal and inter-municipal levels and to promote specific agreements to ensure efficient cooperation during intense events or periods of heightened risk.
Regarding active forest firefighting, which involves recognition, surveillance, spotting, warning, and suppression activities, Regions and Autonomous Provinces must adjust ground and air forces based on the territory's needs. They're also responsible for training forest firefighting operators and ensuring an adequate number of directors of suppression operations with the National Fire and Rescue Service. Having twinning arrangements to share expertise and facilitate effective and coordinated emergency interventions is encouraged.
The state's air fleet assets are managed by the COAU of the Department of Civil Protection. Various factors, including climate and weather forecasts, the national forest fire bulletin, historical statistics, the size and location of the regional fleet, and the availability of water sources, determine the deployment of the fleet. These deployments can be adjusted in response to high-criticality situations.
In the peak period, the air fleet will be deployed throughout the country and in particular in the bases of Genova, Casarsa della Delizia (PN), Rimini, L'Aquila, Viterbo, Rieti, Roma-Urbe, Ciampino, Napoli-Capodichino, Pontecagnano-Salerno, Bari, Crotone, Lamezia Terme, Reggio Calabria, Catania, Sigonella, Trapani, Cagliari, Decimomannu and Olbia.
In the event of a fire, the ground teams, coordinated by the regions, are the first to respond. If the fire is too large and the ground teams cannot control it, the directors of suppression operations (DOS) may ask for help from the Region's air assets, particularly helicopters. If these assets are insufficient, the Region, through SOUPs and/or Regional Operations Centers, can request assistance from the state air fleet through the COAU.
The request for air support follows specific procedures set by the Department. Each year, the Regions and Autonomous Provinces send details regarding the arrangement of forecasting, prevention, and active fight activities to harmonize the regional capacity with the state's contribution and optimize a mutual synergy.
Particular focus is also given to foreign interventions. The significant forest fires that have taken place in recent years, particularly in Mediterranean countries, have necessitated the deployment of the state's firefighting fleet beyond national borders. This has been possible through mutual support mechanisms developed within Europe or bilateral agreements.
For the 2024 forest fire campaign, the state's air fleet during the peak period from July 1 to August 31, 2024, includes 15 Canadair aircraft with plate number 1 and five Erickson S64F helicopters.
In addition, in highly critical situations, aircraft co-funded by the European Commission under the "rescEU" Project may also be deployed within the country.
The Canadair fleet is reinforced by an additional 12 helicopters from the Defense sector, the National Fire and Rescue Service, and Carabinieri.