by InTrieste
In a notable display of civic pride, the Municipal Volunteer Civil Protection Group of Trieste held a press conference at their Santa Croce headquarters to mark a significant milestone: 40 years of service to the community. Local officials and volunteer leaders gathered to share insights into the group’s work, which has evolved dramatically since its inception in 1984.
Caterina De Gavardo, City Security Policy Councillor, spoke first, emphasizing the importance of the group’s contributions over the years. “On behalf of the municipal administration, I am proud to present to the press the valiant members of the Municipal Volunteer Civil Protection Group,” she said. “These are men and women who generously offer their skills, time, and energy to the community.”
In 2024, the group not only celebrated its anniversary but also welcomed 11 new members, expanding the team to 36 volunteers. Perhaps more notable, 18 of the members are under 35 years old, signaling a generational shift towards greater youth involvement in community service. “This is a positive sign,” De Gavardo remarked, “which shows a growing awareness among young people of the need for civic responsibility.”
Founded in 1984 with a primary focus on wildfire prevention, the group’s scope has since expanded to include a wide range of emergency services. Over the past four decades, the group has developed expertise in responding to a variety of critical situations, including natural disasters, missing person searches, first aid, and more recently, the COVID-19 pandemic. The group also takes part in routine maintenance of emergency equipment and community outreach.
An emphasis on education has been a major component of the group’s strategy. “From January to August 2024, 1,210 classroom hours have been conducted,” De Gavardo noted, “involving 711 students. For the City of Trieste, it is essential to educate citizens on prevention from a young age, with the goal of creating an informed, active community that participates in minimizing risks through good practices.”
Paolo Jerman, the Deputy Commander of the Local Police, expanded on the group’s organizational structure, noting that the municipal volunteer team is fully integrated into Trieste’s broader Civil Protection system. Along with other associations registered in the Civil Protection Volunteer Registry, the group operates under the supervision of the Local Police. In emergencies, the Local Police’s 24-hour operations room doubles as the Municipal Operations Center, as it did during the COVID-19 pandemic. The team is also part of a regional network of Civil Protection units based in Palmanova, giving them the capability to respond to emergencies not only across Italy but also abroad.
“Under the coordination of Milvia Chersi, the group guarantees 24-hour operations,” Jerman said, “collaborating closely with the Local Police and balancing both institutional duties and volunteer efforts.”
The group’s modernization has been aided by regional and municipal funding, which has allowed them to acquire cutting-edge technology and state-of-the-art vehicles. This investment has bolstered their capacity to respond to increasingly complex emergencies, such as floods, forest fires, and severe storms.
Milvia Chersi, the group’s coordinator, spoke of the organization’s humble beginnings. “When the group was founded, wildfire prevention was the only emergency sector where the law allowed volunteer intervention,” Chersi explained. “With the creation of Civil Protection, we were integrated and began to specialize, thanks to training courses provided by the Region.”
Today, the group’s competencies span multiple emergency response disciplines, from using chainsaws for forest clearing to assisting firefighters during severe weather. “We set up camps in the aftermath of earthquakes,” Chersi said, citing the group’s extensive experience. “Since the Assisi earthquake, we’ve intervened almost everywhere.”
The group’s responsibilities have also grown to include assisting with flood relief efforts. In recent years, members have deployed to regions such as Marche and Forlì, and earlier missions took them to Liguria and other disaster-stricken areas.
Their commitment to training and safety, Chersi said, is continuous, fostering not only technical proficiency but also a strong sense of community within the group. “We’re like a family,” she added. “Just last night, we responded to a small brush fire along the Cottur bike path. After finishing operations, we came directly to the press conference.”
