Canadair Bombers Battle Wildfires Across Italy’s Amalfi Coast

Three Canadair water bombers were deployed as vegetation fires burned overnight across the Amalfi Coast and Sorrento Peninsula on September 15.

The Italian National Fire Corps said fires affected Positano, Amalfi, Agerola and Vico Equense, with seven crews from Naples and Salerno on scene and reinforcements from Caserta.

Footage from Agerola shows the yellow aircraft making low passes over a steep, smoke-covered hillside and dropping water onto burning vegetation. Firefighters and emergency vehicles were positioned nearby as the aircraft worked through the haze.

Strong winds hampered helicopter operations early in the response. Flames moved through brush between Amalfi, Conca dei Marini, Furore, Tovere/Pogerola and San Lazzaro di Agerola.

The Fire Corps said no homes were damaged and no one was injured in its morning update. Some hotel guests left on their own, while a hospitality site at San Lazzaro was later emptied as a precaution.

Mayors in Positano and Agerola publicly said they suspected arson as the cause. Traffic was disrupted on the SS163 Amalfitana.

Search and containment operations continued through the day.