Not just Canadair, the fire-fighting system is facing problems: "Too few staff and too old."

Summer is upon us, and Sardinia, hit every year by the scourge of wildfires, is facing a firefighting system with several problems this May. This is the premise of the Forestry Corps unions , who, starting with the recent cancellation of the tender for the management of the national Canadair fleet , list a series of critical issues that could arise once the blazes start.

"The cancellation of the contract for the management of the national Canadair fleet, ordered by the Council of State, is part of an already complex situation characterized by persistent critical issues in the management of the regional air fleet," denounce Ignazio Masala (SAFOR) , Carmelo Prestileo (UIL-FPL), along with Gianluca Pinna and Marco Meloni of FESAL. "We welcome with a sense of responsibility the statements of President Alessandra Todde , who reiterated her desire to ensure the continuity of service, but we note further critical issues."

The problems highlighted primarily concern Forestry Corps personnel: " Several operators are still awaiting certification of fitness for duty as part of health surveillance and, consequently, cannot be deployed to operational activities. This situation prevents the system from being considered fully operational, especially in a context already affected by an aircraft fleet that is not fully available."

Furthermore, the staffing "is insufficient, the average age is high." According to the unions, "renewal is necessary, but the planned competition for hiring new agents will have no impact on the 2026 campaign . The system's stability will depend largely on the sense of duty, professionalism, and willingness of the staff , who will once again be called upon to compensate for structural and organizational shortcomings with their commitment."

Hence the requests for "additional resources, including for the internal organization of the Corps, to ensure the full functionality of the fire-fighting apparatus and to address existing deficiencies, including through extraordinary and temporary measures."