NAPLES – Three Canadair fire fighting planes from France are “en route towards Italy to help Italian colleagues.” That was the announcement made from the European Commission spokesman Alexander Winterstein, in a fight against time as the Vesuvio fires continue. 

 While additional rescue mission has been summoned in answer to a mayday formally presented Wednesday to the European Union by the Italian Civil Defence, authorities continue working incessantly around the clock to hinder any new possible hotspots and to extinguish the fires present. 

 “Last night we blocked all roads leading to the National Park and we are assiduously patrolling the territory to signal any suspect pyromaniac or new blaze,” stated Military Commander Major Carlo Bianchi, Thursday, of the II tactic group Terra dei Fuochi. 

 As the army has been presiding over the volcano slopes with a troupe comprised of 48 men and four tactic vehicles for the past several days, there is now talk about possibly reorganizing the men and even possibly increasing the number of military involved. 

 As the flames continue destroying a precious part of Italy’s cultural heritage, places around Ottaviano, Herculaneum and Torre del Greco have been under siege by the Forestry Military Police, fireman and Civil defence, in attempt to limit the damage. 

 While areas keep catching fire due to mounds of organic material present on the ground, reports recently have conveyed some improvement in some parts near Herculaneum, where no damage to people nor buildings have been registered by the City Hall. 

 Authorities nonetheless continue finding evidence sustaining foul play is at hand. With expert pyromaniacs probably at the source of the flames, word has it that the criminals behind this barbaric act used animals (most likely cats) doused with gasoline and set on fire. With hotspots set off contemporarily in eight different hard-to-reach risky areas for man, rumour has it that these poor sacrificial creatures ran in flames deep into the forest in a useless attempt to escape their unfortunate destiny. Without any official confirmation to date, several carcasses of these beloved household pets have indeed been retrieved within the devastated areas.

Reports have equally been signalling improvement at a quota of 800 metres above sea level on the face of the mountain where Torre del Greco is located. 

Many believe this is thanks to the extraordinary work being done by authorities who have been presiding over the entire surface of the endangered Vesuvius to make sure no more foul play can make matters worse.