Fire in Rome, ARPA activated

A significant fire incident occurred in Rome, Italy, at a former polygraphic institute, in the Tor Cervara area. The warehouse, which spans 6,000 square metres across three levels, has been occupied by homeless people, with approximately 50 individuals, including children, currently residing there. Extinguishing operations have not yet been completed. Several Fire Brigade and Carabinieri teams were on site. The preliminary findings indicate that the fire was initiated by a generator employed by the occupants to generate electricity and heat the room. The flames, fuelled by accumulations of rubbish, propagated rapidly, resulting in a conflagration that extended to the adjacent rubbish heaps and subsequently to a neighbouring cottage. The combination of plastic and waste material accumulation with wind-driven combustion led to the formation of a significant plume of poisonous smoke. This prompted the Regional Environmental Agency (ARPA) to dispatch personnel to assess the prevailing air quality. It was reported that the occupants were unharmed, having fled from the scene.