Italian firefighters were battling a large forest blaze in Tuscany on Friday after strong winds drove the fire across a wide area, forcing the evacuation of around 3,000 residents, authorities said.
The wildfire, which began on Tuesday, has spread across more than 800 hectares on Mount Faeta, an area spanning the provinces of Lucca and Pisa. Officials said the situation remained volatile as shifting winds continued to fuel the flames, says Reuters.
Local authorities believe the fire may have started from burning olive tree pruning that got out of control. Matteo Cecchelli, mayor of nearby San Giuliano Terme, said the suspected cause was under investigation.
Overnight winds intensified the fire’s spread, prompting precautionary evacuations in affected communities.
Tuscany regional president Eugenio Giani said residents were moved to safety as a preventive measure due to the changing conditions.
Emergency crews have deployed both ground and aerial resources to contain the blaze. The national fire department said three Canadair firefighting aircraft had been sent to assist operations, collecting water from nearby lakes, rivers and the sea to drop over affected areas.
Authorities said the fire remained active, with crews working to limit its expansion. “The fire is still very much active,” Lucca deputy mayor Fabio Barsanti said in a video message shared on social media.
He said teams were focusing on containing the perimeter of the blaze but warned that conditions remained unpredictable.
“All efforts are being made to contain as much as possible the perimeter of the fire, but we cannot relax or make predictions because we are at the mercy of the wind,” he said.
Officials said the response would continue as long as necessary, with weather conditions expected to play a key role in determining how quickly the fire can be brought under control.
