Wildfires in Italy up 120% this summer on past two years

(ANSA) - Rome, August 14 - Italy has had a 120% increase in wildfires this summer when compared to the past two years, with a total of 3,403 fires since the beginning of the year, Italy's Forest Guards said Friday.
    The 120% figure is a preliminary estimate, however, and also includes fires that were part of a new regulation requiring controlled burns.
    The Forest Service said 61% of the fires were located in southern Italy, but Lazio was the hardest-hit region in terms of surface area, where 2,043 hectares were burned.
    In Liguria, where 170 fires and 800 hectares have been burned this summer, regional councillor Fabrizio Mai asked the Civil Protection Service to supply Genoa with a Canadair firefighting plane to combat the blazes.
    The Taggia wildfire is still burning in that region, and has already destroyed 400 hectares.