The campaign against forest fires in Tenerife will deploy 311 troops, two helicopters and, as a novelty, three drones equipped with thermographic cameras, with a global investment of 3,408,777 euros that make this security device in the mountains the largest in the Canary Islands.
The president of Council of Tenerife, Peter Martinstated this Wednesday at the press conference to present the campaign that the island is prepared in this area because an effort has been made to update security resources in preventive work which, he recalled, lasts for eight months.
The 2022 campaign began on February 11 and will run until December 16 and the head of the Cabildo’s Operational Unit for Forest Fires and Associated Media, José María Sánchez Linaje, has indicated that the hydrological year is normal and therefore both the start of the campaign has been “very good” and the situation is favourable.
However, he recalled that the rainfall regime is different on the southern slopes of the island, on which Pedro Martín has specified that a certain loss of broom has even been detected on the southern face of the Teide National Park.
The Minister for the Natural Environment and Security, Isabel García, has also alluded to the “key” commitment of the institution to increase resources in this area, especially if one takes into account, she has indicated, that research on climate change indicates that Tenerife it may be the island most affected by rising temperatures.
Among other measures, the Cabildo has invested 688,000 euros in the renewal of vehicles with 22 new units and 1,842,540 for the purchase of heavy vehicles, as the counselor has stated that the fleet was aged, since 80 percent of the vehicles are over 17 years old, which poses a risk to the staff when intervening in the extinction of a fire.
In this way, the device is made up of three mother pumpers with a capacity of 9,000 litres, 14 forestry pumpers with a capacity of 3,500 to 5,000 liters, two medium-sized pumpers with a capacity of 1,800 liters, 30 light pick-up pumpers of 500 liters, a Advanced Command and 29 off-road transport vehicles, according to José María Sánchez Linaje.
Likewise, two helicopters based in Tenerife Sur and 200,000 euros have been allocated to build a water loading tank for helicopters in the Chivisaya firewall (Candelaria).
“The investment in the reinforcement of the operation has increased by 47.19% compared to 2021 and the budget has reached 3,408,777 euros”, added Pedro Martín, to add that this has made it possible to have 140 reinforcement people during the months of maximum risk and 70 people from the usual operation dedicated to preventive forestry work and who are also activated in case of fire.
These 70 people are hired from April to June and from October to December, he specified.
Isabel García has also explained that the strategy to deal with this season of fire risk is based “on three fundamental pillars: prevention, coordination and recovery of agricultural land”, while she has requested that in order to avoid misfortunes and catastrophes, it is essential “to responsibility of all the people who live on this island”.
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 of La Gomera, as well as the UME based in the Canary Islands.
As for the drones that are incorporated into the device, in which 15,000 euros have been invested, José María Sánchez has indicated that the intention is for them to act in large forest fires to “spin very fine” in terms of unloading areas and reach to extinction as soon as possible, but for this same reason they will begin to be used by “testing” their performance on small fires.
