SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, June 23 (EUROPE PRESS) –
The Councilor for the Environment of the Cabildo de La Palma, María Rodríguez, presented today, Thursday, this year’s campaign against fires, which will include more than 400 professionals. The mobilization of troops began on June 15 and will continue until the end of the year, with the forecast that it will continue in 2023.
Also participating in the presentation were the insular vice president, Borja Perdomo; the Minister of Waters, Carlos Cabrera; the head of Security and Emergencies, Nieves Rosa Arroyo; the island councilor Carmen Brito, and the mayor of Santa Cruz de La Palma, Juan José Neris.
This year’s campaign has a budget of more than two million euros and, specifically, has more than 400 people including staff from the Cabildo de La Palma, the Government of the Canary Islands and Spain, who cooperate in this operation through the Rapid Intervention Teams in Forest Fires (EIRIF) and Reinforcement Brigades in Forest Fires (BRIF).
In addition, the Voluntary Firefighters of La Palma and the personnel of the National Park of La Caldera de Taburiente, as well as the volunteer corps that operate on the Island, are part of it. In addition, there are four mother vehicles and 17 pumpers.
Regarding aerial means, the Island will have the multifunctional helicopters of the Emergency and Rescue Group (GES), of the Government of the Canary Islands, and the five aerial means of the Government of Spain, which can be mobilized to La Palma if necessary.
The Minister of the Environment recalled the important effort that has been made in recent years to renew the Service’s fleet with the aim of improving the safety of personnel and the effectiveness of the different actions carried out.
María Rodríguez highlighted the importance of the campaign against fires on the island of La Palma. “We are in the time of greatest risk of forest fires, due to the increase in temperatures, so the work that has been done during the previous months has been key to reducing the danger we face,” explained the counselor, who recalled the importance of extreme precautions for this season to prevent fire outbreaks.
According to the data handled by the Environment Service, 30% of the forest fires that occur on the Island are caused by uncontrolled burning, 10% by the use of mechanical tools and another 10% by throwing cigarette butts.
Due to this, this campaign emphasizes the message that was launched last year to ask the population for caution through the slogan “Let’s stop the percentages” to continue working on raising society’s awareness of caring for the natural environment and prevent fires from occurring.
María Rodríguez also wanted to emphasize the importance of the work carried out by the entire fire campaign device, not only in the months of the campaign itself, but also by the people who work throughout the year. “We have always been clear about the necessary work they do, but I would like to remember that these people were also key in last year’s urban forest fire and also during the volcano,” she defended.
This work has been palpable in recent months, where the island continues to suffer the consequences of the volcanic eruption and all these personnel have worked tirelessly in different areas of the emergency and the recovery of roads, public spaces and trails.
“That effort also serves”, adds the counselor, “to raise awareness of the responsibility of all to contribute to the protection of our natural resources”, through a device that is born with a character of continuity, and in which it is being fundamental the work of the technicians to improve the structure and organization of the work of the teams.
For her part, the Minister of Security and Emergencies, Nieves Rosa Arroyo, highlighted the important coordination work that Cecopin carries out throughout the year and pointed out the importance of the participation “of the local police and the Civil Guard , as well as Anaga Emergency Assistance (AEA), Alfa Tango, Civil Protection and the Red Cross, which operate in emergency situations on the island and are key to dealing with these moments”.
