Italy: Wildfire threatens homes near Palermo as wind-driven flames spread through western Sicily.

SHOTLIST PALERMO, ITALY (JULY 23, 2026) 1. VARIOUS OF BURNING AREAS NEAR CASABOLI FOREST 2. VARIOUS OF FLAMES APPROACHING HOMES 3. RESIDENTS PLACING PETS IN VEHICLES 4. VARIOUS OF LOCAL RESIDENTS WATCHING WILDFIRE FROM STREET 5. VARIOUS OF SMOKE AND FLAMES RISING FROM FOREST AREA / FIREFIGHTERS TRYING TO EXTINGUISH WILDFIREPALERMO, ITALY - JULY 23, 2026: A wildfire continued to burn near Palermo in western Sicily after breaking out in Casaboli Forest on Thursday, July 23. Strong winds pushed the flames toward the nearby areas of Monreale, Pioppo and Sagana overnight, threatening homes and residential areas. Italian firefighters and civil protection teams worked through the night with fire engines on the ground to bring the blaze under control. Crews also worked to prevent the flames from reaching homes, while families in high-risk areas were evacuated. Dozens of wildfires swept across the Italian island of Sicily on Wednesday, straining emergency services and forcing the evacuation of more than 100 people, local media reported. The regional Civil Protection Department and Forestry Corps were coordinating operations against fires threatening rural areas, residential districts and major roads, public broadcaster Rai reported. The most critical situation was reported in the eastern province of Catania, where firefighters carried out 11 operations. Blazes affected several areas, including Librino, Belpasso, Zafferana Etnea, Licodia Eubea, Adrano, Caltagirone and Mascali. Several Canadair firefighting aircraft were deployed, including one sent from Cagliari on the neighboring island of Sardinia. In the southern province of Agrigento, a large fire fanned by sirocco winds reached Santo Stefano Quisquina, prompting the precautionary evacuation of more than 100 people. Fire crews were deployed to protect an oxygen storage facility, the Ignazio Attardi clinic, a gas station and a fireworks factory. Carabinieri and police reinforcements were also sent to the area. Mayor Francesco Cacciatore described the situation as “dramatic” and urged residents of the Canfuto and Bosco districts to leave their homes “immediately.” The SS118 Corleonese Agrigentina state road was temporarily closed in both directions near the town. The province of Palermo was also battling dozens of fires. Blazes around Monreale forced the temporary closure of the SS186 state road, while renewed flames in Castronovo di Sicilia damaged rural homes and businesses. The fires also disrupted traffic on the Palermo-Catania motorway, which was closed near the Irosa junction. Additional outbreaks were reported across the provinces of Syracuse, Trapani, Enna, Messina and Caltanissetta, including near a wind farm in Alia and in the municipalities of Salemi, Mazara del Vallo, Piazza Armerina and Nissoria.