Abstract: |
The Sicilian Region, as it is located in the south of Italy, shares common geographical and climatic characteristics with Andalusia, as well as those concerning vegetation. To these features we may also add the high demographic pressure Sicily is subjected to, making it a region susceptible and vulnerable to attack by forest fires. Moreover, the 2003 Regional Plan for Sicily actually corresponds to 1994. Since then a number of laws have been passed in which the Italian regions have been required to draft and/or update their forest fire forecast, prevention and active fire-fighting plans, such as the Regional Sicilian Law 16/96, the Italian national law 353/2000 and the European Regulation of 1997. Due to problems of a bureaucratic, administrative, economic and political nature these directives have not yet been implemented. In accordance with this legislation, a new Regional Sicilian Plan is being drafted but the budget estimates for each of the sections of forecasting, prevention and fire-fighting, extinction and supplementary action have still to be designated. In order to undertake the comparative analysis, we have used the INFOCA Regional Plan and the organisational models currently existing in Andalusia, a region which is a pioneer in forest fire-fighting, as these elements are reasonably effective as regards planning the strategy for effective fire prevention management. We should underline that there is great difficulty in collecting certain key information on forest fires but that there is a growing awareness on the part of the Sicilian government, which is currently updating its data bases and setting up the Special Services Offices. Nevertheless, the effort made to date is still insufficient and more investment in economic, material and human resources is needed. The comparative analysis which we have undertaken may therefore help to establish a common direction for work, improving both our forest fire-fighting systems. |
