Fires wreak havoc on Italy

ROME, Aug. 9 (UPI) -- The Monte Mario residential area of northern Rome was ravaged by a wildfire Thursday, officials said.

Firefighters managed to put out the flames before they reached a nearby wooded area where a well-known religious statue of the Virgin Mary is located, Italy's ANSA news agency reported.

The fire came just a day after three people died in fires in Rome.

On Tuesday, Rome was burned by about 60 fires, while 158 fires ravaged the rest of the country, officials said.

Prosecutors are looking into whether some of the fires were intentionally started.