Canneto di Caronia fires
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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.[4] Similar malfunctions reportedly affected fuse boxes, air conditioners, kitchen appliances, computers, and electronic car door locks.[4] Fires were also said to have struck wedding presents and a piece of furniture.[4] At least one person was said to have observed an unplugged electrical cable ignite while he was directly observing it.[5]
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.[6] ENEL, the Italian power utility, cut power to the town, but fires continued.[4][7] From January through to March, 92 fires were reported.[7]
On 11 February, an investigation was announced by the local prosecutor.[7] On 16 March, fires resumed, and investigators reportedly witnessed malfunctions in compasses, electronic car locks, and cell phones.[7]
In April, the government formed an interdisciplinary research group, coordinated by Francesco Venerando Mantegna from the Sicilian Protezione Civile.[7] 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.[7] Scientists from the National Research Institute (CNR), with the support of NASA physicists, were also involved in investigating the events.[4]
In June 2004, residents were returned to their homes on Via Mare.[7]
Explanations for the events have ranged from the mundane to the paranormal. Public speculation attributed the events to poltergeists, demons, or UFOs.[8][9] In 2007 it was proposed that the phenomena were caused by intermittent electromagnetic emissions.[10] On 24 June 2008, following further investigation by the appointed experts, the case was dismissed by the prosecutor of Mistretta. The conclusion of the consultants was that the fires were arson cases.[11]