by InTrieste
A fire broke out Saturday evening in an abandoned building within the former military hospital complex on Via dell’Ospitale Vecchio, sending plumes of smoke over the city and drawing an immediate response from firefighters. The flames destroyed the roof, and thick black smoke was visible from across Trieste, alarming residents in the area.
The first emergency call came shortly after 6 p.m. from a neighbor who noticed the flames spreading from the building. Firefighters from the central station and the Opicina unit arrived swiftly, but containing the blaze required hours of effort. By the time it was under control, the fire had gutted the roof and part of the upper floor, consuming more than 500 square meters of the structure.
Despite the intensity of the flames, the fire remained contained within the masonry walls of the building. With little wind in the area, the smoke column rose high and dispersed without affecting nearby structures. Authorities confirmed that no evacuations were necessary, including at the adjacent university residence.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but officials have not ruled out human involvement. “The building was disconnected from the gas and electrical grids; there were no sources of ignition,” said Trieste Fire Department Commander Alberto Maiolo. “It cannot catch fire on its own.”
While investigators are exploring multiple possibilities, an early theory suggests that someone may have started the fire—either intentionally or while seeking warmth. The site, abandoned for years, has occasionally been used as shelter by unhoused individuals.
Officials have urged caution but assured residents that there is no immediate danger to surrounding buildings. As firefighters continued monitoring the scene overnight, local authorities pledged to investigate further to determine the fire’s origins and prevent future incidents in the area.
