The threat to Venice by water is well known, and the campaign to save the city from sinking further into the lagoon well publicised. The threat to the city by fire, 'il fuoco', comes less readily to people's minds. Nonetheless, Venice has often been a victim to the ravages of fire, most famously in 1966 when the opera house, La Fenice, went up in flames, the third time in the building's history. The firemen reached the opera house in time, but tragically had no water to extinguish the flames - the nearby canal was being drained.
Like everyone else in car-free Venice, the fire fighters rely on boats for transportation. Their craft are wooden, narrow and about 9 metres long, designed to navigate the lagoon and its many little canals 'i rii', and under the city's many bridges - even when the waters are high. Just as on the mainland, the fire fighters must be able to reach any property, regardless of the water conditions.
The job of protecting Venice brings many particular challenges. Most of the city's 'palazzi', old buildings, for example, are made of wood rather than brick or cement. Typically floors, ceilings, windows frames and foundations are all timber, so a fire started by a strong beam of sunlight, or a candle or gas flame left unchecked, can have devastating consequences.
When fighting a fire, the firemen turn to the most logical source, the seawater from the canals. It's the only water available to them, but it itself causes problems - the salt is extremely corrosive, and though not as damaging as fire, inflicts major damage on the ancient buildings.
Fortunately, improvements are being made. After the devastation at La Fenice, fire hydrants are being installed to protect many of the city's treasures, starting with the buildings most at risk. Let's hope that Venice can now keep the threat of fire at bay.
Links
Venice - Ufficio Protezione Civile
Check out the impressive equipment of the fire fighters of Venice. In Italian.
Operabase listings
Listings, show times and reviews of performances at La Fenice. In English and Italian.
La Fenice
Official site of La Fenice. Take a virtual tour through the building, read old libretti, and check on the reconstruction programme. In Italian.
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Fiery heroes in the city of water