Sicily's Montagna Grande fire spurs aerial attack and parliamentary inquiry

A large wildfire erupted in the Montagna Grande area of the Trapani province in Sicily in the early afternoon, spreading across roughly two kilometres and threatening nearby homes and livestock shelters. Firefighters from the provincial fire command, forest service crews and three Canadair helicopters based in Valderice, Palermo and Sambuca di Sicilia were deployed. The helicopters performed continuous water drops, refilling from the Rubino dam, and a second Canadair was slated to reinforce the aerial effort. The blaze damaged extensive Mediterranean scrub and valuable forest areas, raising concerns for the local ecosystem. Regional deputy Dario Safina of the Democratic Party submitted an interrogation to the Sicilian Regional Assembly, asking whether regional fire‑fighting procedures and the expedited authorization for aerial assets were correctly applied, and calling for an on‑site inspection of the burned zone and the management of forest lands.