A major wildfire erupted on Friday evening in the Tignale mountains, located on the western shore of Lake Garda in the Alto Garda region. Emergency response teams, including firefighters, civil protection units, forest Carabinieri, and volunteer crews, are currently on the scene working to secure the area. Tignale mayor Daniele Bonassi is coordinating the response and has described the unfolding situation as "terrifying."
Containment efforts remain difficult due to high winds reaching speeds of up to 40 kilometres per hour, which are causing the flames to shift direction rapidly. The region has been suffering from a prolonged drought in recent weeks, leaving the local vegetation parched and highly susceptible to fire. To bolster the ground efforts, two Canadair water-bombing aircraft were deployed on Saturday morning to help suppress the blaze.
Authorities have ordered the evacuation of at least 200 people as a safety precaution. Throughout the night, guests were moved out of various holiday homes and the "La Forca" residence, which accommodates a mix of Italian and international tourists. Rescuers are conducting house-to-house checks to ensure all properties are clear, noting that it has been challenging to confirm which homes are currently occupied by visitors. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported at this time.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, and officials are currently focused entirely on containing the flames.
