The president of Government of the Canary Islands, Ángel Víctor Torres, confirmed last night that the forest fire in the north of Tenerife “has lost its danger” and therefore drops in level and becomes directly dependent on the Cabildo de Tenerife. This improvement also means a significant reduction in air resources, which go from ten to five aircraft, although three of them will return to La Palma and La Gomera, so they will be available for “act again if necessary”, according to the deputy director of Civil Protection and Emergencies of the Government of the Canary Islands, Marta Moreno. The troops on the ground have also been gradually reduced and, as of tomorrow, only the media that depend on the Cabildo will remain.
The drop in temperatures for today is between 4 and 5 degrees, in addition to an increase in relative humidity of 50-60%. Circumstances much more favorable for the definitive extinction of the flames. The only active section is the one on the slope of Tigaiga, where downloads will continue to be made with the two helicopters of the Cabildo and, if necessary, with those of the Government of the Canary Islands. The technicians trust that the definitive control of the fire will come with the improvement of the atmospheric conditions, although it is probable that in the coming weeks columns of smoke will continue to appear.
The island president, Pedro Martín, stressed that “this is good news” because “all the neighbors have returned to their homes and all the roads are open.” Today it is planned to reopen the accesses to most of the island’s mountains, except in the area affected by the fire. Martín hopes that the definitive control will arrive “in 24 or 48 hours”, since the fire continues to stabilize with a condition that remains in some 2,700 hectares and 27 kilometers of perimeter.
The Minister of Science and Innovation, Diana Morant, attended the press conference to balance the day in the emergency and pointed out that “it is a reason for joy that this fire has lowered its level, thanks to the human capital and the material means at its disposal. provision”.
Efforts in Tigaiga.
Since yesterday morning, the air and land resources have focused on attacking the hot spots that still remain in the steepest areas of the Tigaiga slope, where the Canary Islands Government helicopters and planes have continued to unload millions of liters of water. amphibians of the 43rd Air Force Group. The aerial means have continued to recharge on rafts in the surroundings of Las Llanadas and also of La Cruz Santa. The seaplanes have recharged in the calm waters of the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. From land, the intervention of troops has also been seen, which from the existing tracks have entered the hillside.
End of evacuations.
Pedro Martín announced at noon that the 38 residents of the thirty houses that remained evicted in Los Realejos, in the Camino del Madroño area, could return to their homes from three in the afternoon. This announcement puts an end to all the evacuations of residents, after those evicted from San Juan de la Rambla, La Orotava and other areas of Los Realejos, at the foot of Tigaiga, have returned to their homes in recent days. The TF-21 between La Orotava and El Portillo, and the TF-344 were also reopened to traffic.
More penalties for arsonists.
Julio Pérez called for a cold analysis of a possible aggravation of the penalties for those responsible for the forest fires. He warned that “in these cases it is better not to make a quick decision”; He was in favor of “studying that possibility”, and acknowledged that it would not seem bad to him “to punish arsonists more harshly”.
Santander support.
The Santander bank announced yesterday that it is enabling a financing line of 10 million euros “in very favorable conditions” for those possibly affected by the fire in the North. This line is aimed at supporting the continuity of the activity of farmers and ranchers, with specific purposes such as the rehabilitation of their farms.
The alert for high temperatures ends.
The Canary Islands Government, through the General Directorate of Security and Emergencies, yesterday ended the alert for maximum temperatures, although it maintains a pre-alert situation throughout the Archipelago. This decision is made taking into account the information provided by the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) and other available sources, and in application of the Canary Islands Specific Emergency Plan for Risks of Adverse Meteorological Phenomena. In a pre-alert situation, it is estimated that there is no meteorological risk for the population in general, although there is for some specific activity or location of high vulnerability. The notice to councils, municipalities and other institutions is maintained so that their emergency personnel continue to be warned, in the face of a possible change in the meteorological phenomenon, until the General Directorate of Security and Emergencies considers the situation to be over. The episode of heat continues, although with less intensity than in previous days. The maximum temperatures in Tenerife will be 34 degrees.