ROME, June 25 (AFP) Jun 25, 2007

Helicopters and specially adapted aircraft joined firefighers on the
ground in southern Italy Monday to fight a series of fires in Calabria
and on the island of Sicily, as a heatwave there continued.

The situation was particularly serious in Sicily, where according to
media reports guests at a number of hotels near the northwest coast had
to be evacuated.

The fires were being fanned by the strong southerly winds known as the
Sirocco.

Fires broke out near Sicily's regional capital Palermo, on the northwest
of the island; Trapani in the west; on the northern coast near Termini
and Cefalu; and in the southeast province of Syracuse.

Forest rangers and police officers joined the firefighters in the battle
to control the forest and brush fires on the ground. Six helicopters and
a water-dropping Canadair aircraft provided additional support.

In Catania on the eastern coast temperatures soared to 44 degrees Monday.

In southern Calabria on the mainland, firefighters and a Canadair were
fighting to contain a blaze that has already destroyed five hectares (12
acres) of oakland and threatens 50 more.

Southern Italy has been in the grip of a heatwave for several days now.

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