The initiative “Carso non Arso” is a training and information campaign designed to raise awareness and promote fire prevention and self-protection measures among students and citizens in areas affected by wildfires. It focuses on strengthening knowledge of risks, encouraging responsible behaviour, and fostering a culture of safety and resilience within communities exposed to forest and interface fires.
Map
Carso Non Arso
General Information
ISIG
Wildfire awareness and self-protection, engaging students and citizens.
The Carso non Arso initiative was created in response to the devastating wildfires of summer 2022 in the Karst area, when extreme heat, drought, and wind fueled the largest blaze in Slovenia’s history, burning up to 4,000 hectares across the Italy–Slovenia border. Entire towns were evacuated, infrastructure was disrupted, and unexploded WWI ordnance added danger. Over 1,500 firefighters, aircraft, and cross-border teams were mobilized, yet the fires left lasting ecological and social impacts.
Needs Addressed
The Karst area is exemly vulnerable to wildfires. Despite this, it was recorded a lack of awareness and preparedness among the population, especially young people, regarding wildfire risks, prevention, and safety measures. For this reason, mayors or municipal representatives will choose the type of meeting based on the audience and available spaces in their local context:
- Soft Meeting (120 min): aimed at younger audiences (elementary and lower secondary students), it focuses on outdoor demonstrations (~90 min) and includes viewing the video about the 2022 Carso wildfire.
- Classic Meeting (180 min): aimed at older audiences, it combines outdoor demonstrations with an informative session covering the following topics:
- Regional Civil Protection System for Wildfire Management
- Provincial Fire Brigade (VVF) Gorizia – 2022 wildfires and general wildfire safety practices
- Regional Forestry Corps (CFR) – role in wildfire prevention and response
- Roles and responsibilities of local and regional Civil Protection, State Police, and Carabinieri
- Event logistics including area interdictions, setup of operational structures, participation of authorities, and practical exercises for students
The initiative targets specifically children and youth. The content and format of each awarness meeting on wildfires espected within the initative are adapted according to their age.
The province of Gorizia is caracterised by multi-level governance, integrating state, regional, provincial, and local authorities. The Prefecture of Gorizia oversees coordination at the state level, while the Provincial Fire Brigade Command manages operational responses. At the regional level, the Civil Protection and Forestry Corps of Friuli Venezia Giulia provide specialized support. Local municipalities play a crucial role in community engagement and implementing preparedness measures. Its governance of preparedness is strengthened by formal cross-border agreements with Slovenia, which enable joint planning, resource sharing, and coordinated firefighting operations.
The province of Gorizia is well-prepared for disaster response, particularly in managing wildfires. This distinction is attributed to its robust infrastructure, proactive governance, and a culture of cross-border collaboration. The cross-border cooperation agreements between Slovenia and Friuli Venezia Giulia enhances operational capacity in the Kart Area, enabling coordinated responses across borders, and ensuring that communities on both sides of the frontier benefit from a shared pool of infrastructure and technical resources.
The infrastructure readiness for disaster response in the Karst area can be considered developed, thanks in large part to cross-border cooperation agreements between Slovenia and Friuli Venezia Giulia. These agreements ensure that both Italian and Slovenian resources, including firefighting vehicles, equipment, and emergency tools, are available and can be deployed rapidly in case of wildfires or other emergencies.
To disseminate a culture of safety, promote self-protection knowledge, raise awareness about wildfire risks, and strengthen cross-border and multi-level cooperation in emergency management.
- Informative seminars in schools and municipalities
- Demonstrations of firefighting equipment and techniques
- Active student participation in practical exercises (using hydrants, extinguishers, fire beaters, improvised tools)
- Projection of videos on wildfire events
- Q&A sessions with Civil Protection, Forestry Corps, and Fire Brigades
- Public campaigns in municipalitie
In Carso non Arso, participants do not have formal decision-making power, but their questions, feedback, and engagement with exercises inform how activities are adapted, shaping the program’s effectiveness and community relevance.
The initiative engages citizens broadly to raise wildfire awareness and response skills, while specifically focusing on youth, who gain practical knowledge and preparedness that they can share with families and communities, fostering long-term resilience and informed decision-making.
Hazard Type
Geographical Scope - Nuts
Population Size
Population Density
Vulnerable Groups
Governance
Emergency Preparedness
Infrastructure Readiness
Engagement Level
Empowerment Level
Implementation
- Strong cross-border collaboration with Slovenia (Nova Gorica Fire Brigade)
- Combination of theory and practical exercises for citizens and students
- Active engagement of youth as multipliers of knowledge in their communities
- Integration of local and regional institutions in a coordinated response model
Italian
The initiative is implemented by the Prefecture of Gorizia and the Provincial Fire Brigade Command of Gorizia.
The Prefecture of Gorizia and the Provincial Fire Brigade Command of Gorizia have along-standing experience in emergency response, respactivly in safety and security and fire management.
- Prefecture of Gorizia Provincial
- Fire Brigade Command of Gorizia
- Regional Civil Protection Friuli Venezia Giulia
- Regional Forestry Corps Friuli Venezia Giulia
- Local municipalities of the Karst area (Gorizia, Monfalcone, Ronchi dei Legionari, Doberdò del Lago, Sagrado, Fogliano Redipuglia, Savogna d’Isonzo)
- Slovenian Fire Brigade (Nova Gorica)
- Schools
- Organisation of awareness and training sessions in schools and municipalities
- Delivery of theoretical sessions (videos, expert talks)
- Practical demonstrations of equipment and emergency procedures
- Active citizen/student involvement in simulated fire extinguishing
- Cross-border cooperation and knowledge-sharing with Slovenian fire brigades
- Firefighting equipment (hydrants, hoses, extinguishers, vehicles, protective gear)
- Personnel from Fire Brigade, Civil Protection, Forestry Corps (both from Italy and Slovenia)
- Educational materials (videos, presentations)
- Logistical support from schools and municipalities
Implemented annually in multiple phases between May and October, with sessions across different municipalities.
Experience of the Implementing Organisation in DRM
Target Audience
Resources Required
Timeframe & Phases
Participation Results
- Youth engagement is crucial, as students spread knowledge to families and communities
- Practical exercises are more effective than theory alone in raising awareness
- Cross-border and multi-level governance enhances preparedness and resilience
Specific information on implementation challenges were not available, however possible ones could have been:
- Engaging diverse groups (students, citizens) with different levels of knowledge: theory, practical exercises, and cross-border cooperation were convained to maintain interest and effectiveness
- Addressing heightened risk perception after 2022 fires: preventive measures and direct experience with equipment were emphasised
One common risk in the implementation of this initiative is a limited public engagement or superficial participation. To strengthen motivation and participation, the initiative aim to achive an active involvement of schools through practical demonstration and cross-border cooperation
Risk & Mitigation Plan
Scalability and Sustainability
Sustainability is ensured by annual repetition of the initiative, institutional partnerships, and integration into civil protection training and awareness campaigns
The model can be scaled to other wildfire-prone regions with similar vulnerabilities, adapting content to local risks while maintaining the mix of theory, practice, and citizen engagement.
The initiative uses multimedia materials for conducting the awarness actions, however is not central for its implementation.
Information on operational costs is not available.
Information on operational costs is not available.