A woman has arrived at the Oristano fire department : it's the first time this has happened. She is engineer Natascia Erriu .
Born in Cagliari and raised in the Cagliari hinterland, she studied at the University of Cagliari, spending a year at the University of Glasgow during her studies. She earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering there and a PhD in Mechanical Design, with an experimental thesis developed largely at the Yacht Research Unit of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Auckland, New Zealand. She recently earned a Master's degree in "Innovation in Crisis Management, Public Rescue, and Security."
In the years before joining the National Fire Brigade Corps he worked in the university field
Conducting research and teaching in the fields of thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, and applied mechanics. Appointed First Officer, she assumed her first role as Deputy Officer at the Bergamo Fire Brigade Command, which she held for a year and a half, starting in March 2025. Previously, she served as a management officer for two years at the Cagliari Command and for thirteen years at the Sardinia Regional Directorate. During this time, she held numerous positions, including Head of the Relevant Risks Area of the Fire Prevention Office, the Forest Fire Prevention Sector, the Training Office, and the "Remotely Piloted Systems" Specialist Unit, gaining a consolidated and in-depth knowledge of the regional territory, its environmental characteristics, and the urban and production realities, as well as the risks associated with firefighting activities.
anthropogenic and natural phenomena.
He has participated in routine rescue operations and in major local and national disasters, including the Olbia flood (Cyclone Cleopatra), the Central Italy earthquake, the Bitti flood, and the forest fire that struck the Montiferru area. He has also participated in several search and rescue operations involving victims under rubble with the "Urban Search and Rescue Medium" team. He has also participated in numerous European projects representing the National Fire Brigade and in national and European exercises.
"I take on this role with great emotion," the Commander said, "not only because it gives me the opportunity to return to my beloved island and be closer to my family, but also because it allows me to serve my homeland and my fellow countrymen. I bring with me the experience I gained within the National Corps, and in particular, that gained in the Orobic region, where I had the privilege of holding my first position as a Director. This enriched me professionally and personally, and I will always cherish it. This experience spans a vast territory, characterized by significant hydrogeological fragility, a dense industrial network, a major international airport, and over a million inhabitants, reflecting an extraordinary work ethic. It will be a challenging journey, which I will face with the utmost commitment and deep dedication, with the primary goal of making a valuable contribution to the entire region, serving its citizens, knowing that this goal can only be achieved through a collaborative spirit between organizations and institutions. I would also like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Engineer Angelo Ambrosio, who preceded me as Commander, for the work he did."
