Major fire at campsite on Lake Garda: 30 mobile homes destroyed

A German tourist remains in hospital after a fire at a campsite on Lake Garda. He suffered third-degree burns, a police spokesman in Verona said upon request. However, there was never any danger to life. Six other people, including a family with three children from Switzerland, were treated for smoke inhalation. They were already able to leave the hospital. A security employee at the campsite was also affected.

The fire broke out early on Sunday morning in the darkness at the “Bella Italia” campsite in the municipality of Peschiera del Garda on the southern shore of the lake. Firefighters can be seen on videos fighting meter-high flames. The column of smoke rose far into the sky.

According to media, eyewitnesses reported that a loud bang woke them up early on Sunday morning. “Fortunately, at 5:50 a.m. one of us woke up because of suspicious noises,” the newspaper “L'Arena” quoted a camper as saying. The person woke up the entire group of six, including a child and two teenagers. They were preparing for the evacuation. The fire was right in the next row.

“I was woken up by a huge bang, it was like being at war,” said a tourist, according to the Ansa news agency. A woman who ran to safety told the newspaper: "We also heard a bang, probably from a gas bottle." The eyewitnesses reported fear and disbelief at the catastrophe that was only narrowly averted.

30 mobile homes were destroyed in the fire. Others are said to have been damaged. In addition, several cars are said to have been damaged. The police did not assume it was arson, but rather an accident. The cause of the fire is still being determined. The extinguishing work was made more difficult by exploding gas bottles. However, according to the fire department, the fire was quickly brought under control. The damage is high. A sum was not initially mentioned.

Given the beautiful weather, but possibly also because of a triathlon competition taking place in Peschiera del Garda, there were many guests at the campsite at the weekend, which is one of the largest on Lake Garda. It has an estimated capacity of around 7,500 people. The facility only renewed its fire protection system last summer, Ansa quoted Mayor Orietta Gaiulli as saying. “I am of the opinion that the emergency services reacted very quickly and prevented anything worse from happening.”