Fire alarm: Rimini and San Marino together for the surveillance service of Civil Protection Volunteers
The high temperatures but above all the drought that characterized the first part of the year, pose a serious alarm on the whole Italian region, including San Marino. At risk is the arboreal heritage made up of wooded areas, but also of public green, land and private fields. A minimum inattention can be the triggering of fires which, in addition to causing naturalistic damage, can be a pentaglio of people and their homes.
Since self-combustion is an extremely rare phenomenon, the danger comes from cigarette butts thrown clumsily by the finest of machines, from the sparks that can be raised by barbecues and which are then carried by the wind and by bonfires lit to burn the brushwood. Sometimes – the case is not at all rare – even for malice.
From this year, the San Marino Civil Protection has inaugurated a section of AIB Volunteers (Forest Fire Sighting). Each group is made up of 4 volunteers, who alternate throughout the day for the sighting from the fixed position on the First Tower and from the mobile station, which by car makes a circular route through the rural and wooded areas of the entire San Marino territory . Their weapons are: binoculars, compass, mobile radio and map. I am in constant contact with the neighboring provincial territorial garrison of Rimini which, in turn, interfaces with the fixed and mobile stations located in Montefiore, Torriana, Botticella and Pennabilli. In the absence of reports, contact takes place in any case at the end of each hour.
The San Marino narrow section was created in collaboration with the Rimini Territorial Security and Civil Protection Service, which also contributed to the organization of the training course for San Marino Civil Protection Volunteers.
It is a very important service, which integrates the constant vigilance already put in place by the Fire Section of the Civil Police Corps and by the UGRAA Ecological Guards.. The lookouts set up by San Marino volunteers will be busy until late September, aware that their service still needs the attention and sensitivity of every citizen, because trees and nature are the patrimony of the entire community.
Finally, remember that with Ordinance n. 5/2022 of 22 June, issued together with the Civil Protection Service and Fire Section of the Civil Police Corps, it is absolutely forbidden, throughout the territory, to burn on site and burn vegetable, agricultural and forest residues, deriving from mowing, pruning or cleaning, until 15 Septemberany non-compliance with the aforementioned Ordinance will be punished with heavy penalties.