The gigantic Tenerife forest fires that destroyed 6.7% of the area on Tenerife started in the late evening on Tuesday 15 August 2023.
Due to summer conditions – high temperatures and extremely dry vegetation – the fire progressed rapidly and destroyed over 800 hectares of forest area in the higher areas of the municipalities of Arafo and Candelaria in a fairly short period of time.
In the end, the flames destroyed natural areas in 12 municipalities, namely Arafo, Candelaria, El Rosario, La Orotava, Santa Úrsula, La Victoria, El Sauzal, Tacoronte, La Matanza, Güímar, Fasnia and Los Realejos, and the fire partially entered the Parque Nacional del Teide.
In an attempt to stop the fire’s advance, more than 150 firefighters, 13 fire-fighting planes and helicopters and over 100 staff from all kinds of emergency services (Red Cross, SUC, etc … ) are being deployed to fight the fire. Meanwhile, the first residents are being evacuated and the islands of Gran Canaria and Lanzarote are sending personnel and equipment to Tenerife to help fight the blaze, which is still spreading.
The fire hair is getting grimmer day by day and the first of the Spanish air force’s three Canadair firefighting planes is arriving to take part in the firefighting efforts along with the rest of the air and ground forces. More people have to be evacuated as the fire is advancing rapidly and the smoke is unbearable.
The fire destroyed more than 1,800 hectares of natural area on the first day, covering a perimeter of about 22 kilometres. The firefighting operation consists of 250 men on the ground and the air component of 14 aircraft.
After two days, more than 3,200 hectares of natural area have already been affected by the flames and the contours draw a perimeter of 40 kilometres. A gigantic column of smoke reaches kilometres high and reaches the capital area. Fernando Clavijo, the president of the Canary Islands, reported that in some parts of Arafo and Candelaria, where the fire started, the flames have been rekindled by a strengthening wind and by aerial fire.
All those evacuated are being housed in shelters that were hastily set up in El Rosario, La Orotava, Candelaria, El Sauzal and La Matanza. The air component was augmented by two more Canadair, while on the ground 260 people fought an uneven battle against the all-destructive fire. All entrances to the Teide National Park are closed for operational reasons.
The air quality index in the municipalities of Güímar, Arafo, Candelaria and El Rosario remains unfavourable due to smoke consisting of a mixture of gases and organic particles. Therefore, vulnerable people and those at risk are asked to. Staying indoors, closing doors and windows and using FFP2 masks are the core provisions.
The firefighting work continues tirelessly 24 hours a day, day and night the response teams continue to work motivated in a working environment where it gets hot over 450 degrees Celsius. Drones and thermal cameras are deployed to detect hotspots, after which firefighters move to a new hotspot each time.
After ten days of intense firefighting work, 13 million litres of water have been dropped on the flames by flying firefighting units, including five Canadair firefighting planes, 1,500 firefighters, professionals and volunteers, were deployed to extinguish the blaze and assist the 13,000 evacuated people.
Twelve of the thirty-one municipalities were affected by the gigantic forest fires, destroying nearly 15,000 hectares of nature. The perimeter of the wildfire is ninety kilometres. The worst fire of the past forty years in the Canary Islands ended after thirteen hectic days without causing a single casualty or serious material damage.
Our thanks go to the heroes of the fire.
¡Gracias a todos!
Fotografía©PedroHernández
Tenerife forest fires ©
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