At the beginning of August 2025 the Vesuvius National Park is been hit by a new large fire after the events of the summer of 2017.
Thanks to the use of data from the Copernicus Sentinel 2 constellation I tried to estimate the extension of the area covered by the fire by extrapolating the intensity classes of damage and which areas of CLC2012 were affected. I preferred to use the CLC2012 and not the CLC2018 because it is in the latter it is already present the estimate of the perimeter of the areas affected by the 2017 fire and the extent of which I am unable to determine of the damage; from direct experience not all of the perimeter area was totally destroyed. I used two Sentinel 2 scenes for this analysis:
- S2B_MSIL2A_20250630T095029_N0511_R079_T33TVF_20250630T120527
- S2C_MSIL2A_20250814T095051_N0511_R079_T33TVF_20250814T152614
I calculated the NBRI index for these scenes (here is an in-depth analysis of the events of 2017 in which I explain this type of multispectral index) and I then calculated the difference between pre and post fire. To classify areas by entity of the damage I used the classification in this paper as a reference "Forest fire area detection using Sentinel-2 data: Case of the Beni Salah national forest ‒ Algeria".
Below is the timeline of the event which, as demonstrated by satellite images, was already active in on 06/08.
The image comparison is between the True Color Image (TCI), an image formed by the RGB bands (B04, B03, B02), those of the electromagnetic spectrum which is capable of perceiving the human being, and between the False Color Urban (FCU) which exploits the B12, B11 and B04 bands. Now, B04 is the red band while the other two are SWIR (Short Wave Infrared) bands at different wavelengths capable of penetrating the smoke of the fire, showing us the fire fronts.
In this image it is present the classification of the areas covered by the fire, classification obtained using the information present in the paper indicated just before. The estimate of the surface covered by the fire is equal to 716 hectares. I underline that this is an estimate calculated using a method that is certainly consolidated but, equally certainly, limited in its accuracy since it is I used images with a low spatial resolution, between 10-20 meters pixels. Satellites with larger sensors resolutions, for example below one meter pixel, could give a more precise estimate. accurate but since this type of data requires payment, I used the open data of the Copernicus service which, as mentioned before, has a lower resolution.
Regardless of the type of satellite used, the meter perimeter will be made with field investigations and direct evaluations.
With the 2017 experience I inserted a series of control points into my data set that were used to evaluate the trend of the NDVI over time and Land Surface Temperature. I then inserted three more points into that dataset because it I will need them to expand multi-temporal monitoring. It was interesting to note that three points (9, 11 and 18) fall into areas already affected by the 2017 fires.
Here is a focus on the area. The white road on the left in the foreground is the path 6 of the Vesuvius National Park, the Matrone road, which had recently become accessible again.
The municipalities affected by the fire, whose area falls within the park are the following:
| Municipality | Extension in PNV (m2) | Extension in PNV (%) |
| Boscotrecase | 4,096,796 | 4.96% |
| Octavian | 9.379.583 | 11.35% |
| San Giuseppe Vesuviano | 2.871.204 | 3.47% |
| Terzigno | 16.642.077 | 20.13% |
| Torre del Greco | 13.627.623 | 16.48% |
| Trecase | 2,597,606 | 3.14% |
The Municipality with the territorial extension, among those affected by the events this article deals with, most present in the Vesuvius National Park is Terzigno. The following table relates the CLC classes present in the municipal territories and the damage classes. The data is in square metres.
| Municipality | CLC2012 | High severity | Moderate-high severity | Moderate-low severity | Low severity | Not burnt |
| Boscotrecase | Complex cultivation patterns | 1.140.182 | ||||
| Coniferous forest | 300 | 59.881 | 90.543 | 33.790 | 549.240 | |
| Land mainly occupied by agriculture, with significant areas of natural vegetation | 1.029.296 | |||||
| Mixed forest | 9.734 | 42.577 | 16.465 | 152.402 | ||
| Transitional woodland-shrub | 13.186 | 48.530 | 65.547 | 518.150 | ||
| Octavian | Broad-leaved forest | 312 | 278 | 2,087,816 | ||
| Complex cultivation patterns | 47.428 | |||||
| Fruit trees and berry plantations | 25.332 | |||||
| Land mainly occupied by agriculture, with significant areas of natural vegetation | 2,638,788 | |||||
| Mixed forest | 925 | 10,599 | 3.023 | 138 | 1.075.143 | |
| Sparsely vegetated areas | 3,600 | 30.724 | 40.705 | 216.926 | ||
| Transitional woodland-shrub | 18.288 | 574.672 | 1,014,979 | 261.407 | 357.216 | |
| San Giuseppe Vesuviano | Broad-leaved forest | 5,600 | 39,799 | 30.611 | 96.035 | 1,099,939 |
| Land mainly occupied by agriculture, with significant areas of natural vegetation | 1.223.380 | |||||
| Mixed forest | 341 | 8.567 | 19.552 | 11.296 | 9.727 | |
| Transitional woodland-shrub | 793 | 1.948 | 2.140 | 141.717 | ||
| Terzigno | Broad-leaved forest | 2.627 | 9.271 | 6.520 | 1.587 | 1.612 |
| Complex cultivation patterns | 1,600 | 19,896 | 53.610 | 107.992 | 2.766.179 | |
| Coniferous forest | 5,300 | 80.221 | 339.616 | 684.190 | 1,077,833 | |
| Fruit trees and berry plantations | 16.614 | 78.258 | 115.551 | 89.138 | 3.640.587 | |
| Land mainly occupied by agriculture, with significant areas of natural vegetation | 290.099 | |||||
| Mixed forest | 37.628 | 398.466 | 460.445 | 399.086 | 1.322.901 | |
| Transitional woodland-shrub | 63,477 | 430.790 | 548.751 | 376.666 | 1.395.249 | |
| Torre del Greco | Broad-leaved forest | 2,261,934 | ||||
| Complex cultivation patterns | 1,892,790 | |||||
| Coniferous forest | 47 | 281 | 685 | 3,499,757 | ||
| Continuous urban fabric | 177.078 | |||||
| Land mainly occupied by agriculture, with significant areas of natural vegetation | 767.119 | |||||
| Mixed forest | 1,757,640 | |||||
| Transitional woodland-shrub | 351 | 1.415 | 3.547 | 1.713.021 | ||
| Trecase | Complex cultivation patterns | 1,529,580 | ||||
| Coniferous forest | 3.193 | 21.453 | 24.082 | 498.828 | ||
| Land mainly occupied by agriculture, with significant areas of natural vegetation | 56.405 | |||||
| Transitional woodland-shrub | 24.846 | 52.955 | 27,779 | 201.792 |
But it is the table that follows is the most interesting, in my opinion. Here I compare the extension of the pre- and post-event CLC classes.
| Municipality | CLC2012 | Pre 2025 (m2) | Pre 2025 (%) | Post 2025 (m2) | Post 2025 (%) | Difference (m2) | Difference (%) |
| Boscotrecase | Complex cultivation patterns | 1.140.182 | 27.83% | 1.140.182 | 27.83% | 0 | 0.00% |
| Coniferous forest | 733.754 | 17.91% | 549.240 | 13.41% | 184.514 | 25.15% | |
| Land mainly occupied by agriculture, with significant areas of natural vegetation | 1.029.296 | 25.12% | 1.029.296 | 25.12% | 0 | 0.00% | |
| Mixed forest | 221.178 | 5.40% | 152.402 | 3.72% | 68.776 | 31.10% | |
| Transitional woodland-shrub | 645.413 | 15.75% | 518.150 | 12.65% | 127.263 | 19.72% | |
| Octavian | Broad-leaved forest | 2.088.406 | 22.27% | 2,087,816 | 22.26% | 590 | 0.03% |
| Complex cultivation patterns | 47.428 | 0.51% | 47.428 | 0.51% | 0 | 0.00% | |
| Fruit trees and berry plantations | 25.332 | 0.27% | 25.332 | 0.27% | 0 | 0.00% | |
| Land mainly occupied by agriculture, with significant areas of natural vegetation | 2,638,788 | 28.13% | 2,638,788 | 28.13% | 0 | 0.00% | |
| Mixed forest | 1,089,828 | 11.62% | 1.075.143 | 11.46% | 14.685 | 1.35% | |
| Sparsely vegetated areas | 291.955 | 3.11% | 216.926 | 2.31% | 75.029 | 25.70% | |
| Transitional woodland-shrub | 2.226.562 | 23.74% | 357.216 | 3.81% | 1.869.346 | 83.96% | |
| San Giuseppe Vesuviano | Broad-leaved forest | 1.271.984 | 44.30% | 1,099,939 | 38.31% | 172.045 | 13.53% |
| Land mainly occupied by agriculture, with significant areas of natural vegetation | 1.223.380 | 42.61% | 1.223.380 | 42.61% | 0 | 0.00% | |
| Mixed forest | 49.483 | 1.72% | 9.727 | 0.34% | 39.756 | 80.34% | |
| Transitional woodland-shrub | 146.598 | 5.11% | 141.717 | 4.94% | 4.881 | 3.33% | |
| Terzigno | Broad-leaved forest | 21,617 | 0.13% | 1.612 | 0.01% | 20.005 | 92.54% |
| Complex cultivation patterns | 2,949,277 | 17.72% | 2.766.179 | 16.62% | 183.098 | 6.21% | |
| Coniferous forest | 2.187.160 | 13.14% | 1,077,833 | 6.48% | 1.109.327 | 50.72% | |
| Fruit trees and berry plantations | 3.940.148 | 23.68% | 3.640.587 | 21.88% | 299.561 | 7.60% | |
| Land mainly occupied by agriculture, with significant areas of natural vegetation | 290.099 | 1.74% | 290.099 | 1.74% | 0 | 0.00% | |
| Mixed forest | 2,618,526 | 15.73% | 1.322.901 | 7.95% | 1.295.625 | 49.48% | |
| Transitional woodland-shrub | 2,814,933 | 16.91% | 1.395.249 | 8.38% | 1,419,684 | 50.43% | |
| Torre del Greco | Broad-leaved forest | 2,261,934 | 16.60% | 2,261,934 | 16.60% | 0 | 0.00% |
| Complex cultivation patterns | 1,892,790 | 13.89% | 1,892,790 | 13.89% | 0 | 0.00% | |
| Coniferous forest | 3,500,770 | 25.69% | 3,499,757 | 25.68% | 1.013 | 0.03% | |
| Continuous urban fabric | 177.078 | 1.30% | 177.078 | 1.30% | 0 | 0.00% | |
| Land mainly occupied by agriculture, with significant areas of natural vegetation | 767.119 | 5.63% | 767.119 | 5.63% | 0 | 0.00% | |
| Mixed forest | 1,757,640 | 12.90% | 1,757,640 | 12.90% | 0 | 0.00% | |
| Transitional woodland-shrub | 1.718.334 | 12.61% | 1.713.021 | 12.57% | 5.313 | 0.31% | |
| Trecase | Complex cultivation patterns | 1,529,580 | 58.88% | 1,529,580 | 58.88% | 0 | 0.00% |
| Coniferous forest | 547.556 | 21.08% | 498.828 | 19.20% | 48,728 | 8.90% | |
| Land mainly occupied by agriculture, with significant areas of natural vegetation | 56.405 | 2.17% | 56.405 | 2.17% | 0 | 0.00% | |
| Transitional woodland-shrub | 307.372 | 11.83% | 201.792 | 7.77% | 105.580 | 34.35% |
Terzigno, San Giuseppe Vesuviano and Ottaviano suffered the most damage. 92% of Broad-leaved forest is gone up in smoke in the territory of Terzigno, 83% of Transitional woodland-shrub of the territory of Ottaviano is burned and 80% of Mixed forest of the territory of San Guseppe Vesuviano was hit by fire.
I close with an image that is quite evocative. The green grid shows the estimated extension of the areas affected by the 2017 fires, in orange that of the event a few days ago. The impact of the fire on the Vesuvius National Park is remarkable state; in just under a decade it was a good part of its territory went up in smoke.