(ANSA) - Rome, July 17 - Firefighters on Tuesday were
battling a huge wildfire sweeping across the Pollino national
park that straddles the borders of Calabria and Basilicata in
southern Italy.
The blaze is believed to have been started deliberately
early Monday afternoon and by Tuesday morning its front
reportedly stretched over a kilometre from Monte Canino to Conca
del Re, with the flames heading towards Dolcedorme.
Here the famous Loricate pines risked "going up in smoke", park president Domenico Pappaterra said, warning of a fire of "huge" proportions.
The park chief spoke of a "360-degree attack, with numerous hotbeds and primers organised scientifically, in addition to a favourable wind".
The park was badly damaged by fire in 2007.
Arsonists are blamed in most cases of forest fires in Italy, and suspicion usually focuses on farmers seeking to clear space for agricultural purposes or land developers hoping to win permits for new constructions.
Here the famous Loricate pines risked "going up in smoke", park president Domenico Pappaterra said, warning of a fire of "huge" proportions.
The park chief spoke of a "360-degree attack, with numerous hotbeds and primers organised scientifically, in addition to a favourable wind".
The park was badly damaged by fire in 2007.
Arsonists are blamed in most cases of forest fires in Italy, and suspicion usually focuses on farmers seeking to clear space for agricultural purposes or land developers hoping to win permits for new constructions.
