150th Anniversary of the Volunteer Firefighters of San Maurizio Canavese

One hundred and fifty years of volunteer courage

The 150th Anniversary of the Volunteer Firefighters of San Maurizio Canavese is the grand festival with which the municipality and the volunteer detachment celebrate a century and a half of service to the community. The event, scheduled from June 12 to 14, 2026 in Piazza Marconi, in the center of San Maurizio Canavese (Province of Turin, Piedmont), combines historical memory, technical demonstrations, and popular conviviality in three days open to all.

A history dating back to 1876

The corps was officially founded on May 15, 1876, as the "Compagnia Operaj Guardie a Fuoco" (Workers' Fire Guard Company), the first organized group of volunteers led by local lawyer Luigi Francesco Marchini. From that first intervention—a burning farmhouse in the Malanghero hamlet reached on foot while pushing a hand pump—the detachment has gone through over a century of transformations: the uniforms of 1894, the first motorized pump in 1928, integration into the national service, and, since 1981, the modern barracks on Via Barbania. Celebrating 150 years means telling the story of this identity deeply rooted in the Canavese area.

What to expect

The festival alternates between official moments and family entertainment. Main highlights include:

• Operational demonstrations of the various firefighting specializations
• Exhibition of historic and modern vehicles in Piazza Marconi
• Pompieropoli and the "House of Errors," educational play paths dedicated to children
• The spectacular competition with antique hand-operated fire pumps
• Food stalls and pizzeria, with live music evenings

All proceeds from the event will go toward purchasing a new fire engine for the detachment: participating in the festival also means concretely supporting the work of the volunteers.

A festival for the whole community

More than just a celebration, the anniversary is a meeting point for San Maurizio Canavese and the neighboring municipalities of the Ciriacese and Lower Canavese areas. Amidst music, local flavors, and the pride of a service donated freely by generations of citizens, the 150-year festival is an opportunity to rediscover the value of volunteering and to experience the town center in an atmosphere of authentic sharing.