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PhrasesCalling AmbulanceC'è un incendio!
A1urgent

C'è un incendio!

There is a fire!

Pronunciation

in-CHEN-dyo — three syllables, stress on second. 'Inc-' + 'end' + 'io'. The 'c' before 'e' is soft.

When to use it

For fire, call 115 (vigili del fuoco). Also call 118 if people are injured. Evacuate first, then call — never re-enter a burning building.

What it means

'C'è un incendio!' = there is a fire! Call 115 for fire brigade ('vigili del fuoco'). If people are trapped or injured, also call 118. If the fire is in a single building or flat, evacuate immediately and call from outside. 'L'edificio brucia' (the building is on fire), 'Ci sono persone all'interno' (there are people inside).

Variations

Chiami il centoquindici! I vigili del fuoco!

Call 115! The fire brigade!

115 is the Italian fire brigade emergency number

Ci sono persone intrappolate nell'edificio.

There are people trapped in the building.

Report trapped people — highest urgency, multiple agencies dispatched

È scoppiato un incendio in cucina.

A fire broke out in the kitchen.

Common house fire starting point — report location within building

Mini Dialogue

— Pronto! C'è un incendio nel palazzo! Al quarto piano! — Ha chiamato il 115? — No ancora! Chiamo adesso! — Le persone sono fuori dall'edificio? — Non so! Ho sentito le urla! — Esca subito. Non rientri. Avvisi i vicini. Il 115 e il 118 sono in arrivo.

— Hello! There is a fire in the building! On the fourth floor! — Have you called 115? — Not yet! I am calling now! — Are people out of the building? — I do not know! I heard screaming! — Get out immediately. Do not go back in. Warn the neighbours. 115 and 118 are on the way.

Cultural Note

Italy's fire brigade ('vigili del fuoco') number is 115. They respond to fires, road accident extractions, flooding, and other non-medical emergencies. The EU emergency number 112 can also dispatch all services. Italian apartment buildings built before 1990 often lack modern fire safety features — no sprinklers, single stairwells, no pressurised escape routes. Post-earthquake fire safety has become a major issue in Italian building codes.