Evacuated camping areas and recreational areas near the Los Realejos fire
The Government of the Canary Islands, in application of the Special Plan for Civil Protection and Emergency Response to Forest Fires in the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands (Infoca), has taken over the management of the Los Campeches fire, in the upper area of Los Realejos , after moving to Nivel and has ordered the preventive evacuation of the Fuente de Pedro camping area, the Barranco de la Arena Camp, as well as the El Lagar and La Tahona recreational areas.
The forest fire started at 10:19 am and includes part of the municipalities of Los Realejos and San Juan de La Rambla.
So far, eight aerial means have been involved: three helicopters from the Emergency and Rescue Group of the Government of the Canary Islands (GES), another two from the Cabildo de Tenerife, a Kamov helicopter and an Air tractor (cargo plane on the ground) from the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge (MITECO), in addition to a Civil Guard helicopter in aerial coordination functions.
By land, firefighting personnel from the Cabildo de Tenerife, the Firefighters Consortium and the EIRIF teams of the Government of the Canary Islands based in La Gomera and BRIF from MITECO participate; security resources of both the Local Police, as well as the State Security Forces and bodies and the General Corps of the Canarian Police and Civil Protection, the Canary Emergency Service (SUC) and the Red Cross, details the Canarian Government in a note.
With the declaration of Level 2 of the fire, the Military Emergency Unit (UME) is incorporated into the extinction tasks with the first contingent that deploys a platoon made up of 20 soldiers, three fire trucks, a wet nurse and an operations manager. During the night troops from Gran Canaria will be incorporated.
call to calm
The mayor of Los Realejos, Adolfo González, has pointed out that “from the outset the Municipal Emergency Plan, the Crisis Unit has been activated and has acted quickly”. The local councilor has called the residents of the town to calm down, “all the media are in Los Realejos”.
González thanked in his appearance before the media the speed with which the Cabildo de Tenerife and the Government of the Canary Islands have acted. “From the first moment all the available services have been made available and we are in a very guarded situation. These are crucial moments”, he concluded.
There is concern about the high temperature at the fire site, where “a slight breeze” is taking place. “Fortunately, -continued the mayor- we don’t have problems with the wind”. The objective of the work at the moment is that the fire does not spread and pass to other municipalities.
