Bagolino Fire Brigade Honored for Service at Annual St. Barbara Ceremony
Since 1779, the year of the famous Bagolino fire that claimed many lives, the town has never been caught unprepared in the face of fire emergencies.
As every year, on the occasion of St. Barbara, patron saint of the Firefighters, a meeting was held in Cerreto among the Bagolino Fire Brigade, the municipal administration represented by Mayor Marco Scalvini, and the law enforcement agencies with Marshal Giacomo Dal Prete and Diego D’Agostino.
The presence of the law enforcement representatives was very important, in light of ongoing collaboration for various interventions carried out in the territory alongside the fire brigade.
Awards to Volunteers and Remembrance
During the annual celebration, several honors were awarded to volunteers from the Bagolino group, bestowed by the Minister of the Interior, responsible for the General Directorate of Civil Protection and Fire Services.
The awards were given in recognition of outstanding service over fifteen years of activity, dedicated to the community of Bagolino and the surrounding area within their jurisdiction.
The Minister decided to award six volunteers the Cross of Merit for seniority, with a certificate of commendation and a ribboned cross to be worn on the uniform.
Volunteers Osvaldo Care, Diego Melzani, Mauro Melzani, Mauro Pelizzari, Fernando Salvadori, and Darlo Zanetti received these recognitions from the mayor in an atmosphere of general emotion.
The gold medal with ribbon was also awarded to squad leader Gilberto Lombardi for 25 years of service.
The mayor, in his speech, emphasized that the community of Bagolino owes a deep debt of gratitude to these humble and silent individuals who perform volunteer activities—often risking their own lives—in defense of others and the preservation of the territory.
“Many times, they don’t even receive a thank you, but we know that the citizens are more at ease knowing that, in case of danger, someone is watching over their safety.”
This is the strong sense of responsibility that drives the volunteers.
Marco Scalvini recalled a fire from a few years ago that burned dozens of hectares of forest, causing the closure of the S. Antonio road and the consequent isolation of the town.
During that incident, much of the vegetation on the hillside facing Lake Idre, near the Montesuello Ossuary, went up in flames for about a week.
The firefighters, with the help of many volunteers, were directly involved in managing the situation.
During the celebration, it was highlighted that Bagolino is one of the few towns with a Fire Corps, which has about twenty volunteers.
To facilitate the work of these individuals, the municipal administration has, over the years, installed a series of fire hydrants in the historic center to prevent older buildings—many of which are attached—to serve as additional fuel for potential fires.
Finally, it was emphasized that the work carried out by these volunteers needs continuity, and that new forces are necessary to sustain the efforts made so far by the current members of the group.