Wildfires sweep Rome: Parco del Pineto blaze under control after threatening homes
Multiple wildfires broke out across Rome and its province on 4 July, with the largest consuming several hectares of vegetation in the Parco del Pineto near Pineta Sacchetti. Firefighters and civil protection units, supported by helicopters, brought the main blaze under control by late afternoon.
Fire breaks out at Parco del Pineto
A large wildfire ignited around 13:00 in the Parco del Pineto, in the Pineta Sacchetti area of Rome. The flames started from two separate points on private property and spread rapidly, fanned by wind, across Valle Aurelia, Valle dell'Inferno, and Monte Ciocci. Residents reported seeing smoke from their balconies, and as the fire approached residential buildings, some evacuated. The train station at Valle Aurelia was also evacuated.
We were throwing water from the balconies, then the flames got closer and we decided to go down. By then the windows were already hot.
Response and containment
Firefighting operations involved three teams from the Rome fire brigade, two water tankers, the provincial shift commander, and civil protection modules. The civil protection later stated that three helicopters were deployed to support extinguishing efforts. By 16:53, the Protezione Civile di Roma Capitale declared the situation under control, with crews working on residual hotspots and mop-up. The fire is suspected to have an anthropogenic origin, and investigations are ongoing.
- Fire starts from two points on private property in Parco del Pineto.
- Residents report smoke; flames spread rapidly due to wind.
- Resident L.M. sees smoke from balcony; later evacuates as flames approach homes.
- Police patrol calls for fire brigade intervention.
- Two firefighting teams and director of operations arrive; helicopters deployed.
- Fire moves toward Valle Aurelia; train station evacuated.
- Civil protection declares situation under control; advanced extinguishing phase.
Other fires across Rome and province
The Parco del Pineto blaze was one of at least five vegetation fires handled by Rome's fire brigade on 4 July. A separate fire burned in via Raimondo Scintu in the eastern part of the city, tackled by the Tuscolano II detachment. Another broke out in via delle Ceramiche, where the Monte Mario team responded. Outside the capital, crews fought fires in Anzio (via Antonio Vivaldi) and Ardea (via dei Monti di Santa Lucia), with support from civil protection modules.
Political reaction and resident accounts
Daniele Giannini, a Lega politician and former president of Municipio XIII, criticised the city administration, calling the fire one of many summer dramas for Rome's green spaces.
The devastating fire that hit Parco del Pineto today is yet another drama Rome lives through every summer. A green lung of the city devoured by flames while the Campidoglio continues to tell a Rome made of inaugurations and ribbon-cuttings.
A resident, identified only as L.M., recounted that a similar fire had occurred four years earlier. No injuries or intoxications were reported as of the latest updates.
