Naples – A night of fire and tension engulfed the eastern part of Naples: around 1:00 a.m., a violent fire broke out in a warehouse on the ground floor of a building on Via Santa Maria di Costantinopoli alle Mosche, not far from Gianturco.
The flames, fueled by presumably toxic materials, generated a thick column of black smoke visible from every corner of the Campania capital, forcing the immediate evacuation of the entire building and sowing panic among residents. The firefighting operations, still ongoing, required a massive intervention by firefighters: in addition to local teams, three fire trucks from the provincial headquarters of Avellino, Caserta, and Salerno arrived on the scene as reinforcements.
A provisional toll carries a grim price tag: a firefighter was seriously injured when a gas cylinder exploded during the initial rescue operations. The man, whose condition is currently stable but serious, was rushed to the hospital.
As documented by reporter Pino Grazioli, who was present at the scene, the injured man continued to coordinate his comrades despite the pain, embodying the daily heroism of those who fight fires on the front lines.
This incident is not an isolated one, but rather the latest in a chain of fires that have been plaguing Naples and Campania for months, transforming the eastern suburbs into a battlefront against pollution and neglect.
Gianturco, with its industrial warehouses and storage facilities often lacking adequate fire safety regulations, seems to be a prime site for these disasters: in recent weeks alone, similar fires have struck waste dumps and abandoned structures, leaving behind toxic clouds that poison the air and soil.
Environmental experts warn that the burning of plastics, oils, and unknown materials releases dioxins and fine particulates, with long-term risks to public health—from respiratory problems to cancer—and a devastating impact on urban ecosystems.
Breaking the institutional silence is the Green-Side Alliance MP, Francesco Emilio Borrelli, who for years has denounced the "toxic fire system" as a chronic emergency.
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"That column of black smoke seen tonight is not only a tragic sight, but a powerful symbol of an endemic problem that Naples and Campania continue to suffer. Every fire causes incalculable damage: to the environment, to the quality of the air we breathe, to the health of citizens, and to the economy, with the exorbitant costs of rescue and cleanup passed on to the community."
Borrelli isn't just talking: his voice is also political pressure, with a series of concrete requests to the authorities. "We demand immediate intervention by ARPAC to monitor and assess the air and soil in the surrounding area, in order to quantify the environmental and health impact of the combustion of toxic materials.
We want clarification on the dynamics of this fire: was it intentional? Was it negligent? And, above all, we demand intensified inspections and prevention measures on warehouses, sheds, and industrial facilities, where fire safety measures seem like a mirage. It is unacceptable that the lack of minimum standards puts entire communities at risk.
The MP did not forget those involved on the ground, reserving words of praise for the firefighters. "We pay tribute to the courage and dedication of our 'heroes in uniform,' who evacuated an entire family and continued their work despite the explosion that injured a colleague.
We wish him a speedy recovery. Their sacrifice proves that we can no longer tolerate this chain of accidents, which not only destroys our land but also endangers the lives of those who protect us.
While the flames are being put out and experts begin to investigate the causes, the inhabitants of the eastern area are still in shock.
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