SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, June 29. (EUROPE PRESS) –
The Cabildo de Tenerife has presented this Wednesday the insular device of the fire campaign with 311 troops and which is consolidated for a period of eight months due to the effects of climate change and the increased risk of large forest fires.
The president, Pedro Martín, who has appeared before the media together with the counselor of the Natural Environment and Security area, Isabel García, and the head of the Cabildo’s Operational Unit for Forest Fires and Associated Media, José María Sánchez Linaje, He has pointed out that Tenerife “is ready” for this summer and that no island has an operation like this.
The investment, which has been on the rise since the mandate began, now reaches 3.4 million –120% more than at the start of the mandate– and this year includes as novelties the incorporation of three drones with thermographic cameras –with a cost of 15,000 euros– and the creation of a water recharge point for helicopters in the upper area of Candelaria (Chivisaya) that has cost 200,000 euros.
Sánchez Linaje has pointed out that of the 311 personnel of the device, 163 are from the Cabildo and the rest are reinforcements for the most intense times of work, to which are added two helicopters, three mother pumpers with a capacity of 9,000 liters, 14 forestry pumpers with a capacity of 3,500 to 5,000 liters, two medium-sized fire trucks with a capacity of 1,800 liters, 30 light pick-up fire trucks of 500 liters, an Advanced Command Post vehicle and 29 off-road transport vehicles.
For this year alone, seven new vehicles have been incorporated at a cost of 688,000 euros, and a renewal of heavy vehicles for an amount of 1.8 million is being prepared for next year.
He has indicated that drones will be used in attempts to test the tool, but the objective is to allow “optimization” of work in forest fires and especially at night, when it is not possible to fly, and thus better fine-tune the use of water. .
Looking ahead to this summer, he has indicated that the year is “normal” from the hydrological point of view, so the campaign is starting “very well”, although he has recognized that it is impossible to predict if there are going to be large fires given that the tendency to lack of rain on the southern and western flanks of the island.
Regarding the six fires that were registered in the north of Tenerife in 2020, he pointed out that they serve as learning, although it was a “single episode” as a result of a “concatenation of circumstances”, with more than 500 incidents in six hours and reaching the area urban. “It was an experience, we all learned and coordinated well,” he said.
INCREASINGLY “DEVASTATING” FIRES
Isabel García has warned that each time the fires are “wider and more devastating” due to the increase in temperatures in the highlands and the abandonment of farmland, for which she has claimed more “individual responsibility” and highlighted the reforestation and coordination and specialized training with Civil Protection teams.
To the insular corporation’s own means must be added the availability during the period of risk of others from the Government of the Canary Islands, made up of five GES multifunction helicopters and the rapid intervention teams (EIRIF) in each of the smaller islands, equipped this year with light fire trucks.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food also offers the availability of a Kamov K-32 helicopter (heavy bomber of 5000l) based in Tenerife South, the Brif of Puntagorda and a cargo plane on the ground (Air Tractor of 3200l) at the airport from La Gomera.
Likewise, the UME based in the Canary Islands that collaborate in case of need with the troops demanded according to the demand.
