Tenerife will have two helicopters to combat the fires forestry. The Governing Council of the Island Council approved the tendering of this new contract, with a budget of 7.7 million euros and which includes an increase in the service periods of both helicopters. The first aircraft will be active 365 days a year, compared to the six months included in the previous contract, and the second will increase its service cycle from four to six months, to at the expense of possible improvements that may be presented by the companies participating in the contract.
The Governing Council approved the contracting file for the tender for the chartering service of the two helicopters that will be used to fight forest fires, for a specific value of 7,726,962 euros.
This new contract, for the period 2024-2028, includes a increased duty cycles of both helicopters, based at Tenerife South Airport. Specifically, the first helicopter will be active throughout the year and the second will increase its service period from four to six months, which can be extended according to offers.
Is about light single-turbine helicopters, with capacity for 5 people and 1,000 liters of water or foam. They allow the capture of images in real time (both photographic and video) of all incidents detected for transmission to CECOPIN. In addition, they are capable of carrying out firefighting missions up to a height of 3,000 meters, and their cruising speed reaches 235 kilometers per hour. At the aerial level, the Cabildo operation also has three drones with a thermographic and visual camera to take images and videos.
The two devices will have their operational base at the Tenerife South Airport
In regards to land operation, this year is made up of a total of 327 people. To the 163 workers of the Cabildo de Tenerife, who are deployed throughout the year with management, prevention, control and extinction tasks, we must add the 122 reinforcement workers to the operation -deployed since mid-April-, and the 42 own troops of the National Park of Teide.
At the terrestrial level we must add three mother pumpers with a capacity of 9,000 litres, 14 forestry trucks for between 3,500 and 5,000 litres, 6 of them newly incorporated, two medium-sized 1,800-litres, 30 light 500-litres (5 newly incorporated), one Forward Command Post vehicle and 29 transport jeeps. To the operation must be added training to deal with extinguishing techniques in large fires and actions in interface fires, two particularly significant areas of intervention in Tenerife. The Natural Environment and Safety Management area calls for citizen responsibility to prevent fires in the island’s mountains.
Media from other administrations
To the resources of the Island Corporation in the fight against the fire in the mountains of Tenerife, we must add the availability, during the period of risk, of others from the Government of the Canary Islands. There are five GES multifunction helicopters and rapid intervention teams (EIRIF) located on each of the outlying islands. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food also offers the availability of two 1,600-liter medium helicopters to replace the Kamov K-32 helicopter; the Puntagorda Brif, in La Palma; and a cargo plane on the ground (3,200 liter Air Tractor) at La Gomera airport. Likewise, the members of the Military Emergency Unit (UME) collaborate in case of need. There are two detachments, one in Tenerife (Los Rodeos Barracks) and another in Gran Canaria (Gando Base). Fighting forest fires is the task of all administrations. | JDM
