If there were no victims during the fire that devastated Punta Molentis on July 27th, it is also thanks to twenty ordinary citizens.
Without thinking twice, they left their jobs, their families, or whatever else they were doing to lend a hand to the official rescue efforts (which are commendable) and save everyone, from the first to the last.
For this reason, Mayor Gianluca Dessì, after consulting with city councilors and communications from the Cagliari Maritime Directorate, forwarded the list of these individuals to the Prefect, requesting a civil merit award for them.
The commendation
All twenty, in short, deserve "official commendation," as stated in the council resolution, "for their spontaneous dedication, for risking their own safety for the safety of others, and for the protection of a collective asset of incomparable value." Their names have not yet been released ("We will only do so after the prefect gives the green light").
They are mostly boat operators, but also ordinary citizens who felt the need to immediately make themselves available to save lives: "They responded immediately to my calls," explains Mayor Dessì, "and truly gave everything they could. They stayed there amidst the sea, flames, and smoke, risking their own lives, until the last swimmer was rescued."
Twenty people, not all from Villasimius: "To be honest," the mayor adds, "the mobilization of my community didn't surprise me. I was certain of their support, especially in emergency situations. What I was positively surprised by, however, was the mobilization of people who aren't from Villasimius but who clearly truly care about this area. I'd like to emphasize once again that these were very dangerous operations."
The fire
The fire on July 27th threatened to turn into a tragedy for the approximately four hundred people who were on the beaches of Riu Trottu and Punta Molentis at the time.
The prompt intervention of all law enforcement agencies—the Coast Guard, firefighters, forest rangers, police, and Carabinieri—was crucial. As was that of volunteer associations, and indeed, of ordinary citizens, who demonstrated "exemplary and selfless dedication in saving the lives of others," in the somewhat bureaucratic language of the official document, "and of the swimmers present at Punta Molentis."