Today my beloved mountain burns again. This is the view from my studio window. Instead of painting I have been out with neighbours keeping vigil, and counting the minutes between helicopter trips bringing water from local swimming pools. Eventually the other plane (can't remember what it is called) arrived with foam and the worst was brought under control. Anxious wives and mothers watched from the road, knowing that their husbands and sons were near the inferno trying to protect olive trees.
Most believe that it is arsen. The fires start at the same place every year. I don't want to believe that. But brutal it is, the mountain burning, the people watching helplessly from below.
PS: 5 hours after the fire started the helicopters still buzz over the once still and tranquil village. Today is ferragosta, the start of the official holiday period. No rest for the firemen, the pilot, the civil defence folk on this 35° (earlier this morning) scorching hot day. The breeze that is normally so welcome keeps fanning the fire. I have given up thoughts of painting, as the helicopter flies near my studio window every 12 minutes.
Today I am grateful for helicopters and water.
3 comments:
Oh Kay such devastation. Arsonists are violent offenders and potential murderers, they should be shown no mercy! The landscape scars will heal over time but the stress and pain for the people will be very lengthy. Thinking of you. H
It will be green again soon, but the biggest problem for us is the loss of vegetation causing rockfalls. We will walk with caution for a while!
:-(
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