A wildfire burning on Mount Faeta in Tuscany has destroyed around 800 hectares of woodland and forced the evacuation of approximately 3,000 people, Italian authorities said on Friday.
The fire has been active since Tuesday, spreading across an area straddling the provinces of Lucca and Pisa in one of Italy’s most visited regions.
Tuscany regional president Eugenio Giani ordered the precautionary evacuations after overnight winds intensified the blaze, particularly affecting the areas of Asciano and San Giuliano Terme. Three Canadair firefighting aircraft have been deployed alongside ground crews and regional helicopters conducting continuous water drops.
The fire was likely started by the burning of olive tree prunings that got out of hand, Matteo Cecchelli, mayor of San Giuliano Terme, told public broadcaster RAI. Dozens of firefighting teams worked through the night supported by drones equipped with thermal imaging cameras to monitor and locate outbreaks.
“The fire is still very much active,” said Fabio Barsanti, Deputy Mayor of Lucca, in a video posted to Facebook on Friday.
Weather conditions remain a significant obstacle for firefighters. Sustained winds have continued to fuel the flames, hinder aerial operations, and trigger new outbreaks in areas thought to be under control.
The blaze has burned across woodland between the settlements of Santa Maria del Giudice, Asciano, and San Giuliano Terme. The simultaneous activity of fires across several locations has made containment particularly difficult, according to Euronews.
Tuscany is one of Italy’s most popular holiday destinations, drawing millions of visitors each year to its landscapes, hilltop towns, and cultural heritage sites. The provinces of Lucca and Pisa attract significant international tourism, with Pisa home to one of Europe’s most recognised landmarks.
