Fires break out as Rome sizzles under heatwave.
Rome firefighters battled a spate of wildfires that broke out in suburbs around the city on Monday 30 June amid a scorching heatwave in the Italian capital.
The three most serious blazes affected the Valle dell’Aniene nature reserve in the north-east area of Rome, as well as at Ponte Galeria near Fiumicino airport, at the Fregene junction of the Rome-Fiumicino motorway, and the Tor Carbone area around Via Appia Nuova.
The fires led to road closures and traffic chaos as teams of firefighters sought to put out the flames, including with a helicopter unit which dropped water from above.
Rome mayor Roberto Gualtieri said in a statement that the city was doing its part, “continuously verifying compliance with our strict directives to prevent and mitigate fires during the summer season”.
Incendio in atto sulla Roma – Fiumicino uscita Civitavecchia. Video di Massimiliano Graux. pic.twitter.com/uwrY8PJO4X
— Italia 24H Live – Notizie dall’Italia (@Italia24HLive) June 30, 2025
Stressing that those “who do not respect the rules will be severely sanctioned”, the mayor called for “the utmost sense of responsibility and collaboration” between authorities and citizens, adding: “Rome cannot allow this type of fire to become a recurring emergency”.
The fires come as the capital sizzles under a heatwave, with a maximum red alert or bollino rosso heat warning in place until Wednesday 2 July.
The city reminds residents that fires can be reported by calling the 112 emergency hotline while for information, the civil protection operations room is active 24 hours a day at the toll-free number 800 854 854.
Image: Tor Carbone, photo RAI News.
