As soon as they arrived, already defective. «It is ordered that the pick-up vehicles will not be made operational for a few more days, pending the resolution of the anomalies highlighted»: this was written by the head of Forestas' procurement sector, Maurizio Malloci, to all the agency's territorial offices.
It refers to the firefighting vehicles delivered to the various facilities with the first informed of the 13 million euro contract called (and awarded) for the purchase of 173 pick-ups to be deployed throughout Sardinia for the fight against fire.
The first thirty Ford Rangers, equipped with blitz (the "historical" name of the fire prevention module in the body) were distributed in various areas of the island. And the operators tried them. Hence the "various reports" cited by Malloci, which led to the block.
«A problem was found with the supply tanks of the fire-fighting device», explains the general director of Forestas, Antonio Casula, «with the heat there were spills». Slow down, Casula, when you define them as losses, which would mean the classic "petrol on the fire".
The DG instead throws water on the flames of the potential controversy: «The supplier companies have assured us that they have already identified a solution and are already working to resolve the problem. The communication of suspension of use was sent to ensure safety."
Casula is keen to point out that «the deployment of the apparatus is only at the beginning. Discovering the anomaly at this stage, when the vehicles were brought into the field, allowed us not to have to deal with the problem with the rest of the supply, which will arrive already efficient".
The anomaly is then addressed when the arsonists still have the lighter in their pocket. What if it happened in July? «It would have been a big problem», admits Casula, who however adds: «But it didn't happen. And in any case, the vehicles to be replaced are still operational in this process: the firefighting campaign in the field has not suffered any interruptions. No alarmism."