Brush fire near Rome's Grande Raccordo Anulare closes ring road stretch, causing severe traffic chaos
A large brush fire broke out near Rome's southern ring road on 26 July 2026, forcing authorities to close the GRA between the Laurentina and Pontina exits in both directions and triggering massive congestion.
Fire erupts near ring road
A large brush fire ignited in the early afternoon of 26 July 2026 along via Laurentina, close to the Grande Raccordo Anulare in Rome's southern quadrant. The blaze spread rapidly, sending thick smoke across the motorway and creating immediate safety risks for drivers. Emergency services deployed a substantial response, including firefighters working with three helicopters to douse the flames.
Road closures and traffic chaos
To protect road users and allow firefighting operations, local police closed via Laurentina in the outbound direction from via di Acqua Acetosa Ostiense. A wider closure followed: the GRA was shut between the Laurentina and Pontina junctions in both directions. All entry ramps from via Pontina onto the GRA towards Ciampino were also blocked to prevent vehicles from entering the affected zone. The coordinated closures were carried out by Rome Capital's local police, the IX Gruppo Eur, in agreement with other police forces, firefighters, and civil protection.
Traffic quickly backed up along the ring road. Officers reversed the direction of travel on part of the carriageway to let stranded vehicles exit the jam. Multiple patrols from the local police, state police, and traffic police worked to divert cars and ease the flow away from the fire zone.
Emergency response
Firefighters, assisted by three helicopters, battled the flames from the air while ground crews protected nearby structures. Civil protection teams and police secured the area, and local police remained on via Laurentina to manage the road network. The priority was extinguishing the fire and preventing it from spreading further, while ensuring no motorists were trapped in the smoke-filled section of the motorway.
Outlook and ongoing disruption
Authorities have not yet indicated when the GRA stretch will reopen. By 15:00 UTC, emergency services were still working at the scene and all closures remained in place. Drivers were advised to avoid the southern quadrant of Rome and use alternative routes. The fire's cause has not been reported.
