Rome, Italy - July 31, 2024

Firefighters have been tirelessly battling a widespread vegetation fire on the slopes of Monte Mario since yesterday, working through the night to contain the blaze.

Overnight, seven firefighting teams focused on extinguishing residual hotspots in the lower parts of the hill, while efforts intensified around Villa Mazzanti at the hill's summit to prevent the fire from spreading further. An aerial firefighting helicopter from the Lazio region has been deployed to assist in the operation.

As of 9:00 AM on August 1, 2024, firefighting operations continue with ground crews focusing on extinguishing smoldering embers and residual fires in the upper areas of Monte Mario. Additionally, a Canadair aircraft from the National Firefighters Corps has been conducting targeted water drops to cool down hotspots identified by firefighting operation leaders.

The effort marks nearly 24 hours of continuous firefighting work to bring the Monte Mario fire under control, underscoring the dedication and coordinated efforts of emergency responders in Rome.