Naples – A night of fear and fire in Scampia. A large fire broke out late yesterday evening inside the Roma camp of the neighborhood on the northern outskirts of Naples, quickly enveloping an area of about 100 square meters.
The rapidity with which the flames spread forced authorities to order the immediate evacuation of approximately 60 residents. Among them were many people in particularly vulnerable and fragile conditions, to whom the emergency services immediately focused their attention and assistance.
Rescue machine at full capacity
The alarm was raised immediately, bringing a massive deployment of forces to the scene. Firefighters, supported by local police officers, the police headquarters, the Carabinieri, and Civil Protection personnel, worked tirelessly to contain the blaze and secure the entire area.
To support the complex extinguishing operations and the subsequent clearing of the smoking debris, the firefighters also had to use an Air Cart, the logistical vehicle necessary for refilling the breathing cylinders on site.
At the same time, the Local and Provincial Police constantly monitored traffic on the surrounding roads, particularly the SP1 and SP500, to assess the impact of the smoke on motorists' visibility. Fortunately, a traffic closure was not necessary.
Emergency meeting at the Prefecture
While rescuers were still busy quelling the last outbreaks, the management of the emergency shifted to the institutional level. The Prefect of Naples, Michele di Bari, urgently convened the Rescue Coordination Center in the middle of the night to assess the situation and coordinate safety measures.
All the relevant organizations participated in the operational roundtable: from the heads of the law enforcement agencies (Police, Carabinieri, and Guardia di Finanza) to representatives of the emergency services (118), the municipal and regional Civil Protection Department, led by director Claudia Campobasso, and the SORU (Unified Regional Operations Room). Also present for the City of Naples was Chiara Marciani, Councilor for Social Policies and Welfare.
Reception and relocation paths
The response was immediate. Under the guidance of the Welfare Department, the Municipality's Social Services set up a temporary shelter, positioned at a safe distance from the fire, where evacuated families could find initial shelter after hastily abandoning their shacks.
"We've been on the ground since the first hours of the emergency," said Councilor Chiara Marciani. "The municipal social services are currently fully deployed to manage the delicate post-fire phase. In addition to providing initial assistance and psychological support to evacuees, the offices are already working to plan and coordinate the safe evacuation of residents and the subsequent relocation of families. Our goal is to ensure dignified housing solutions and adequate protection, starting with the most vulnerable groups and the minors affected."
It was a night of fire in Scampia. It appears the fire spread very quickly. Firefighters tried but were confused, and municipal services weren't fully operational. Many families were evacuated and left alone without a place to call home. We hope help arrives, but I don't know when.