A New Profession in Sicily: Entrepreneurial Fire Starter

We've seen a number of fires this summer. One was a tree burning so furiously in the lot behind our back yard that it was flinging flaming debris on our car. We smelled the smoke and were wondering who'd be using their fireplace in 100 degree weather! But we think the arsonist was our neighbor's flaming cigarette.

These photos were taken by Ann as we were driving home from the market one hot summer day.



And as reported by the Associated Press and taken from Britain's The Herald...

FIREFIGHTERS in Greece have now brought all major blazes in the country under control one week after hundreds of wildfires broke out across the country, killing 64 people, making at least 4000 homeless and costing an estinated £800m.

Property speculators have been blamed by many for the unprecedented emergency, but across the Ionian Sea, Sicily has been dealing with a near-identical - and not unfamiliar - crisis.



Seen from above, the island looks more like an inferno. In the past two weeks it has been ravaged by nearly a 100 fires which have claimed the lives of at least a dozen people, including four last Sunday. Extremely hot temperatures of up to 46 degrees and a hot wind arriving from African are feeding the flames and helping fires spread.

Police suspect the Mafia is responsible. Mimmo Fontana, president of the National Environmental League (Legambiente), said: "In Sicily, the Mafia sets fires for speculative motives. They are experts in destruction and reforestation because after the flames there is a lot of money to be made by those who put out the fire and those who replant the trees.

"Forest fires have become an entrepreneurial activity. In short, the Mafia's strategy is quite simple: the organisation burns down forests so their own companies will be awarded money by the state or regional government to replant trees in the area."

Cosa Nostra's techniques for setting bush fires are cruel in themselves, often using live cats to get the blazes going. The cat is soaked in petrol and set on fire. It then starts to run and lights the undergrowth. occasionally a long burning rope is attached to the tail.

The Italian government has now decided to send armed forces to the region to deal with the situation and some are calling for them to take the place of forest rangers in the coming years to ensure the arsonists are penalized.

Italian police recently made their first arrest when two members of the Mafia were surprised by authorities as they attempted to start a fire. Alfredo Morvillo, the judge leading the investigation, commented: "In Sicily, the Mafia is present any time huge investments of money are in play. Reforestation, replanting burnt down trees, is one of these."



Who'd ever have thought that rain would be the perfect weapon against the Mafia.

....aaahhh...at long last...these few drops of rain on Kelley's windshield were photo-worthy as I have no seen rain since May...

All my life I've lived in Hawaii, a place without seasons...So it's a new joy to experience eagerness and excitement for the end of summer.