In 2004–2005, there was a series of unusual fires in Canneto di Caronia,

Sicily Sicily (Italian language, Italian and ), officially the Sicilian Region (), is an island in the central Mediterranean Sea, south of the Italian Peninsula in continental Europe and is one of the 20 regions of Italy, regions of Italy. With 4. ...

(

Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...

). Although popular speculation ascribed the fires to paranormal events or secret military technology, official investigations concluded that the fires were cases of

arson Arson is the act of willfully and deliberately setting fire to or charring property. Although the act of arson typically involves buildings, the term can also refer to the intentional burning of other things, such as motor vehicles, watercr ...

2003–04 events

Canneto di Caronia is a village in Sicily, home to roughly 150 people. Events began on 23 December 2003, at Antonino Pezzino's home on Via Mare; Pezzino's television reportedly exploded. Similar malfunctions reportedly affected fuse boxes, air conditioners, kitchen appliances, computers, and electronic car door locks. Fires were also said to have struck wedding presents and a piece of furniture. At least one person was said to have observed an unplugged electrical cable ignite while he was directly observing it. On 9 February 2004, two houses on Via Mare burned. In response, Mayor Spinnato issued an order evacuating the 39 residents of Via Mare from their homes to the town's only hotel.

ENEL Enel S.p.A. is an Italian multinational manufacturer and distributor of electricity and gas. Enel was first established as a public body at the end of 1962, and then transformed into a limited company in 1992. In 1999, following the liberali ...

, the Italian power utility, cut power to the town, but fires continued. From January through to March, 92 fires were reported. On 11 February, an investigation was announced by the local prosecutor. On 16 March, fires resumed, and investigators reportedly witnessed malfunctions in compasses, electronic car locks, and cell phones. In April, the government formed an interdisciplinary research group, coordinated by Francesco Venerando Mantegna from the Sicilian

Protezione Civile The (Civil Protection), officially (Civil Protection Department), is the national body in Italy that deals with the prediction, prevention and management of emergency events. It was established in 1992 by , which was updated in 2012, and it is ...

. That team reportedly had widespread cooperation from the nation's armed forces, police, as well as utilities. Venerando's team reported anomalous 'electromagnetic activity', unexplained lights, and a helicopter that experienced allegedly-anomalous rotor damage. Scientists from the National Research Institute (CNR), with the support of

NASA The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA ) is an independent agencies of the United States government, independent agency of the federal government of the United States, US federal government responsible for the United States ...

physicists, were also involved in investigating the events. In June 2004, residents were returned to their homes on Via Mare. Explanations for the events have ranged from the mundane to the paranormal. Public speculation attributed the events to poltergeists, demons, or UFOs. In 2007 it was proposed that the phenomena were caused by intermittent

electromagnetic In physics, electromagnetism is an interaction that occurs between particles with electric charge via electromagnetic fields. The electromagnetic force is one of the four fundamental forces of nature. It is the dominant force in the interacti ...

emissions. On 24 June 2008, following further investigation by the appointed experts, the case was dismissed by the prosecutor of

Mistretta Mistretta ( Sicilian: ''Mistritta'') is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Messina in the Italian region Sicily, located about east of Palermo and about west of Messina. Mistretta borders the following municipalities: Capi ...

. The conclusion of the consultants was that the fires were arson cases.

2014–15 events

Mysterious fires returned in mid-2014. On 5 March 2015, police arrested and charged Giuseppe Pezzino, 26, with arson, conspiracy to commit fraud, and sounding a false alarm in association with the mysterious fires. His father, Antonino Pezzino, has also been implicated. The Italian military police had installed hidden cameras in the streets after the fires started again in July 2014. Video captured about 40 incidents implicating Giuseppe (and occasionally, Antonino). Further evidence was gathered by phone taps.

In popular culture

The fires were featured in the US television program ''

The Unexplained Files ''The Unexplained Files'' is an American television series on Science Channel that investigates paranormal and other unexplained phenomena. According to a King Features spokesperson, it was the most watched series on the Science Channel during it ...

''. In 2019, the fires were featured on the program '' Unidentified: Inside America's UFO Investigation''.''Unidentified: Inside America's UFO Investigation'', Ep. 6 The Revelation

References

{{reflist 21st century in Sicily 2004 fires in Europe 2005 fires in Europe 2004 disasters in Italy 2005 disasters in Italy Arson in Italy Arson in 2004 Arson in 2005 Arson in 2014 2014 fires in Europe 2004 crimes in Italy 2005 crimes in Italy 2014 in Italy