Piedmont is coping with what the Region describes as an "ecological catastrophe". The fires in Turin, Vercelli, Novara, and Verbano-Cusio-Ossola provinces have burned between 800 and 900 hectares, resulting in the loss of approximately 700,000 trees. The cause of the fires is meteorological: lightning strikes during violent storms in recent days ignited the flames, which subsequently spread rapidly due to the wind, scorching temperatures, and dry land caused by weeks of drought. The situation was further exacerbated by a record heatwave that culminated on Wednesday, July 8, with strong foehn winds. Valsesia, in the province of Vercelli, is the worst affected area, with 450 hectares destroyed by fire; in Premosello Chiovenda, 226 hectares were burned, destroying 60% of the local forest area and valuable oak and beech ecosystems. The flames spread to the Gran Paradiso National Park in the Soana Valley near Turin, destroying fir and larch trees. Smoke and ruined ecosystems harm pollinators, reptiles, and breeding birds, while roe deer and chamois run into residential areas. Firefighters, planes, and volunteers worked together to save an additional 3,500 hectares, including almost three million trees and entire valley-floor hamlets.