Alto Garda Forest Fire Threatens Landslide Risk and Ongoing Battle

Another day of fire on the mountains above Tignale, in the heart of the Alto Garda Park. The fire, which was ignited on Sunday morning and seemed nearly contained by Monday evening, resumed during the night between Monday and Tuesday, devouring the pine forest in the Coste area. Now, the mayor of Tignale, Manlio Bonincontri, emphasizes the hydrogeological risk. The pine forest, which was almost completely destroyed by the blaze, had been planted about sixty years ago on a nearly vegetation-free slope, precisely to prevent landslides and mudslides. Now this splendid forest, reduced to a pile of ashes with the spectral silhouettes of dozens of charred black pines, can no longer perform its role of containment.

The risk of hydrogeological instability

“The risk of hydrogeological instability definitely exists,” – continues the mayor – “and this worries us seriously. This pine forest was placed there to support the mountain.” It is no coincidence that the area of Coste was once called “Coste pelae,” Bare Slopes. But besides this concern, natural anxiety remains over the fire situation. Yesterday, three helicopters from the Lombardy Region and a Canadair firefighting aircraft from the Protezione civile based in Rome Ciampino were deployed again.

While the three helicopters drew water from nearby pools, continuously replenished by fire brigade and volunteer tankers, the Canadair used water directly from Lake Garda. Since the presence of many sailboats, motorboats, and tourists could make this operation difficult and dangerous, the plane was continuously escorted by patrol boats from the Carabinieri and the Coast Guard, which monitored the lake surface each time the aircraft descended to refill.

“This morning,” – Mayor Bonincontri stressed again – “the flames reached heights of twenty to thirty meters.” The fire, which had threatened homes in the previous days, retreated yesterday but the front line extended further, swallowing additional hectares of forest.

The battle against the flames

“The pine forest,” explains the mayor, “consists mainly of black pines, which have very resinous trunks and canopies. They catch fire easily and burn like candles.” Therefore, the fight against the fire is not yet over. The problem,” – officials say – “is that for many years no one has cleared the forest, and a thick layer of leaves, dry branches, and brush has accumulated beneath the trees, where smoldering embers and hot coals can continue to nest for days, capable of reigniting the fire at any moment.”

Ground remediation work is particularly crucial and decisive, involving and still requiring the efforts of dozens of people: firefighters, Volontari del Garda, volunteers from Tignale Soccorso, Limone del Nono Comprensorio, forest rangers, Carabinieri, and many others. Just one ember, one forgotten spark, is enough for the fire to flare up again. Meanwhile, the estimated damage is becoming increasingly severe: at least 25 hectares of forest have been destroyed, with significant landscape damage as well.