A thick cloud of black smoke was visible over the inner city of Rome for a long time on Saturday evening. Flames were also seen in Centocelle Park, an area where several car wrecks are located. Three large car wrecks burned down completely. About fifteen buildings in the area had to be evacuated and the streets in the area were closed to traffic. Residents were asked to wear masks if they had to go out on the streets because the smoke could be toxic.
It is the fourth time in less than a month that a major fire has broken out in Rome. Earlier there was a fire in Malagrotta and twice in the wooded area between Aurelio and Balduina. Each with black plumes of smoke that are visible up to tens of kilometers away. According to the police, it cannot be ruled out that this is malicious intent. However, a suspect is not in sight.
“The fires that have hit the city in recent times are an impressive sequence of events that put Rome and the people of the city to the test,” said Mayor of Rome Roberto Gualtieri. “We are constantly monitoring the situation and we do not yet know whether the facts are of criminal origin or just negligence.”
According to Claudio Mancini, MP for the center-left party Partito Democratico, the police urgently need to find out whether it is a single person or a gang. “Rome is under attack by arsonists,” he cried.
Firefighters injured
The fire was fierce because it was fanned by the strong wind that has been blowing through and over the city since Thursday, the fire service said. More than 100 firefighters with 50 fire trucks came to the scene to fight the fire. The police were also present in large numbers.
Some firefighters had to go to hospital with respiratory symptoms or because they became ill from the intense heat given off by the flames that had been fought all night.