Firefighters have successfully contained a wildfire between Sicily’s Zingaro Nature Reserve and Scopello, with authorities declaring the emergency resolved by 8 a.m. Tuesday. The blaze, which ignited Monday in the reserve, spread overnight toward Scopello, forcing the precautionary evacuation of approximately 50 homes as smoke engulfed residential areas. Two Canadair water-bombers intervened at dawn to assist ground crews battling multiple fire fronts that illuminated hills above Scopello for hours.
Castellammare del Golfo Mayor Giuseppe Fausto described the evacuation as “necessary but painful,” thanking emergency teams for safeguarding lives and property. He reported “profound wounds and incalculable environmental and economic damage” to the fire-ravaged Trapani region. Coordination led by the Prefecture involved forest fire services, firefighters, reserve staff, municipal and state police, Carabinieri, and civil protection groups Firerescue and Anopas in sustained overnight operations.