TENERIFE FIRE DEPARTMENT

The Tenerife Fire Department, known as the Consortium, operates under the principle of unified command and follows a mixed structure.

There are seven professional fire stations (marked in yellow on the map) with a permanent staff of 50 firefighterswho are available 24/7 for emergency response and rescue operations. Additionally, the Consortium coordinates eight volunteer fire brigades (marked in green on the map), all of which contribute to ensuring the safety of the island’s residents.

267 Employees & Advanced Equipment

The Tenerife Fire Department is equipped with high-tech firefighting and rescue vehicles, capable of reaching any area on the island. All resources – both personnel and equipment – are coordinated from a dedicated control centerlocated in the 112 emergency response center in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.Besides firefighters and command staff, the team also includes technical specialists who provide fire prevention advice, along with administrative and logistics personnel. In total, the department has approximately 267 employees.

Drones for Firefighting and Rescue

The Tenerife Fire Department has recently deployed four drones to enhance safety from a new perspective. These Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) will facilitate search and rescue operations in open areas and better assess hazardous situations in confined spaces.

The main objective of these UAVs is to improve safety and efficiency in rescue operations, emergency assistance, and disaster assessments. These drones, equipped with cutting-edge technology, allow for real-time risk evaluations, identifying potential dangers such as fires, chemical leaks, or contaminated areas, whether indoors or outdoors.

With this new deployment, Tenerife’s Fire Department now operates five drones, playing a crucial role in early incident detection and strategic planning for preventive interventions.

Investments are now being made in the training of new drone pilots, aiming to enhance emergency response capabilities and strengthen safety measures across the island.

Advanced Technology for Emergency Response

The new drone fleet includes two advanced UAVs equipped with high-resolution cameras and thermal imaging, designed for search and rescue operations in open areas, even in difficult-to-access locations. These drones have long-range capabilities and can fly up to 4,000 meters high.
Two smaller drones specifically designed for indoor operations, assisting in searching for trapped individuals and evaluating risks in confined spaces.

One of the key features of these drones is their real-time communication system, allowing fire units to transmit live messages and warnings about potential dangers. This improves coordination during interventions and enables firefighters to make informed decisions during operations.

Expansion of the Drone Program

The ability to operate both day and night, thanks to thermal imaging and high-resolution visuals, makes these drones indispensable for search and rescue missions. Additionally, they will contribute to faster and more precise interventions in fires, chemical emergencies, and hazardous contamination zones, reducing risks for firefighters.

Currently, the Tenerife Fire Department has 10 trained drone pilots, based at the Santa Cruz de Tenerife fire station. In 2025, additional training sessions are planned, with 10 more firefighters expected to obtain drone licenses.

The goal is to expand this service to fire stations in San Miguel (South Tenerife) and La Orotava (North Tenerife), ensuring that all fire units have qualified personnel to operate drones during emergency situations.

Drone Specifications

🔵 Two Class C2 Drones – DJI Mavic 3

• Weight: 1 kg
• Wide-angle camera & thermal imaging
• 45-minute battery life
• Altitude range: Up to 4,000 meters
• Equipped with an external speaker & live video transmission
• Includes extra batteries, straps, propellers, landing pad, and propeller guards
• Application: Search and rescue missions in open areas and outdoor emergency evaluations

🔴 Two Class C0 Drones – DJI Neopack

• Small, lightweight drones specifically designed for search and rescue missions indoors
• FPV (First-Person View) control using specialized goggles

With these additions, the Tenerife Fire Department has become one of the most technologically advanced firefighting units in Spain, particularly in the use of drones for emergency response and rescue operations.

Bomberostenerife.es © Photography
Tenerife Fire Department ©