Fire alarm outside La Meridiana. "It was extinguished before firefighters arrived."

Siena, November 8, 2025 – “When the fire broke out, Wednesday evening, around 8:30 PM, the theater workshop shift was changing. We have classes from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM and then from 8:30 PM to 10:00 PM. While I was parking, I heard a friend of mine screaming. She was yelling. I went out and she told me about the flames. The trash can under the stairs at the main entrance had caught fire.” This is how Gaia Del Vecchio , an actress and teacher at 'Aresteatro', begins her story. She and other people experienced firsthand what happened at the 'La Meridiana' civic center in San Miniato, home to many activities, both sporting (such as gentle gymnastics) and cultural and recreational ones. A hub that has always been a valuable community center for the neighborhood. A small fire that, fortunately, did not cause significant damage, even though it remained closed on Thursday. Including the Youth Community Center (CAG), where a sign (see photo above) appeared: "Suspension of activities until further notice." The closure was brief because, after an inspection conducted yesterday by the Municipality, no damage was found to the structure or the furnishings inside. Therefore, the green light was given for activities, even though the heating isn't working because the flames engulfed the boiler box, which will be repaired as soon as possible. However, judging by our photographer's shots, the building remains in a state of poor maintenance, which, Gaia Del Vecchio observes, has also been reported by users. "The structure needs to be reevaluated, a restyling. We need the Civic Center where, in addition to the theater, tango lessons are held, for example, and there's also a Gnostic center," explains the artist. The fire, it must be said, didn't start due to a short circuit or problems with the systems; everything would have been in order. Probably, someone down there lit a fire to warm themselves and was unable to control it. A hypothesis.

"The fact is, the fire from the trash can climbed up the wall toward the entrance to the Center. If we hadn't noticed, the consequences would have been serious, even putting those inside at risk," observes Del Vecchio. He distinctly remembers the smell of smoke everywhere, signaling "the incredible composure of a man who acts as a showman with us. He managed to save the situation by going to the restrooms, repeatedly throwing buckets of water, since he's right next to the door where the trash can is. He was the one who put it out before the firefighters arrived. He did it. The firefighters, however, saw the damage, to the heating unit for example." The most widely accepted theory is that human intervention was involved. An accidental event, but not related to electrical problems. "We asked everyone, but no one threw cigarette butts there," observes Del Vecchio. People ran out, there must have been five or six of them; there were no other classes that evening.

After the shock and fear of being left without a space for activities—some had already inquired about possibly continuing in private homes—there was a sigh of relief. But the need for a redesign of the facility remains, where materials are piled up and abandoned, even a broken bicycle. The "La Meridiana" Civic Center should be revitalized.