Wildfires in Molise and Gargano force tourist evacuations, block rail and road traffic
Fires fanned by heat and southwest wind swept coastal areas of Molise and Gargano on Sunday, forcing evacuation of beachgoers, a care home, and halting rail traffic.
Fire spread
Multiple wildfires ignited on Sunday 26 July across the coastal border between Molise and Puglia, driven by high temperatures and a strong libeccio wind. One front started in the morning in the Zaiana-Pile Fraballe area of Gargano, while another developed near Campomarino Lido after a farmer reported spotting flames. The blazes rapidly consumed Mediterranean scrub and Aleppo pine forest, reaching tourist beaches, campsites, and residential zones by midday.
- Farmer spots first flames near Campomarino Lido.
- Fire brigades dispatched; fire at Zaiana-Pile Fraballe in Gargano expands.
- Campsites, care home and beach clubs begin evacuations.
- Coast Guard evacuates Manaccora and Sfinale beaches by sea.
- Canadair arrives from Peschici and starts water drops.
- SS16 and Adriatic railway remain closed; passengers rerouted.
Evacuations
At Campomarino Lido, municipal police and finance guard officers evacuated 21 elderly residents from the Villa San Gerardo care home, transferring them to Santo Spirito Church and parish premises. Dozens of families fled their homes, and holidaymakers were cleared from beach clubs and campsites. On the Gargano side, the Coast Guard evacuated bathers by sea from Manaccora and Sfinale beaches toward Vieste. The municipality of Peschici opened an elementary school on Via Montesanto as a reception centre.
Transport shutdown
Heavy smoke forced the closure of State Road 16 Adriatica between kilometre 551.150 and 558.600, as well as State Road 693 "Dei Laghi di Lesina e Varano" near Cagnano Varano. The Vieste-Peschici coastal road was also shut, with bus services diverted onto SS89. The Adriatic railway line between Bari and Pescara was suspended, bringing all high-speed, Intercity and regional services to a halt. Passengers stranded at Termoli station were offered the option to return to their departure points and resume travel once the line reopens.
Firefighting effort
Five fire brigade teams from Campobasso, Santacroce di Magliano and Termoli were deployed from late morning, supported by a helicopter from the Pescara flight unit and a Canadair that carried out multiple drops from around 17:00. Additional reinforcements arrived from Abruzzo, while civil protection, state police and carabinieri assisted on the ground. One hotel at the lido was grazed by flames but sustained no structural damage because it was closed for renovation.
