Let us not extinguish this fire
In recent days we have received dozens and dozens of messages from competitors from all over Europe with words of support and affection for the entire S1 Team following the catastrophic fire in the Karst. Many are asking if we are OK and which sections of the course were affected by the fire.
We all experience the Karst as something of our own, 'My Karst' , "Moj Kras"so there is little point in talking about which sections of the race course were affected. A couple of kilometres on the 164km, just to settle the question. Fortunately we are fine, but we are wounded in our souls and some of our volunteers have been on the front line in dealing with this catastrophe. In Udine, unfortunately, a Civil Defence volunteer passed away while fighting the fire.
At first, a mushroom of white and reddish smoke appeared, so reminiscent of an atomic explosion.
Immediately afterwards there was a heavy atmosphere and unbreathable air, with a layer of ash in the Monfalcone area.
Images and feelings that have marked everyone and will be remembered for a lifetime.
The column of smoke on the first day stood out against the blue sky, towering above the emerald vegetation and the turquoise sea, and then slowly descended until it collapsed and enveloped the entire area in a heavy, pestiferous blanket.
An apocalyptic sunset, where ash and smoke were rekindled by the reflections of the sun, turning the spectacle of the sun setting over the Gulf of Trieste into a macabre warning. A heavy, gloomy atmosphere, far from any hope, almost evoking the suggestions of Blade Runner.
Night passes. The sun rises and slowly the air becomes clear again, breathable. The cloud dissolves. The Canadairs and helicopters cease their continuous shuttling from the Gulf of Trieste to the Karst.
White rocks stand out against a bed of black ash, illuminated by the rays of the sun, which finally manages to pierce the deadly cloud.
The skeletons of our black pines and sumac remain standing, blackened in snapshots of a last cry of pain from our land, plants, animals and the soul of the Karst.
A scenario that catapults us back more than a hundred years, to the Great War, when the Karst, bathed only in blood and suffering, was just as it appears today.
The pain is enormous, but the response was strong and with one voice. Hundreds of firefighters and volunteers from the Italian and Slovenian Civil Defence worked together. Voluntary associations, private individuals and institutions fought this battle together.
What we can do is write these words addressing all of you who ran La Corsa della Bora and sent words of appreciation, concern and support from all corners of Europe, thanking you and Turning your affection and gratitude to the true heroes of these days, those who fought this war on the front line, thanking them not only on our behalf, but also on yours. Thank you.
This tragedy has violently reminded us how everything we take for granted can be destroyed at any moment.
May these moments of pain and adrenalin that have brought us together in unity and unity, keep our burning love for our land and our desire to work together with a common goal and purpose: to unitedly defend the beauty of our planet and life, the one fire we do not extinguish.
photo: ilgoriziano.it, Facebook: Anna Cisint, Gattolandia Cividale, Sei di Duino se, Fulvio Pav, Protezione Civile Duino Aurisina, Vladi Pupo Mevric, Koca Trstelj
link:
https://www.comune.duino-aurisina.ts.it/
https://www.comune.monfalcone.go.it/
https://www.vipavskadolina.si/