SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, July 18 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The forest fire declared at dawn last Saturday in the municipality of Puntagorda, on the island of La Palma, continues to be active after a much quieter night than the previous one and without any notable incident, and today the work is going to focus on the Caldera de Taburiente National Park, as long as the smoke that is currently in the area allows it.
This was reported by the Minister of the Presidency, Public Administrations, Justice and Security of the Government of the Canary Islands, Nieves Lady Barreto, who appeared at a press conference together with the Minister of Territorial Policy, Territorial Cohesion and Water, Manuel Miranda; the president of the Cabildo de La Palma, Sergio Rodríguez, and Montse Román, head of Civil Protection and Emergency Attention of the Canary Islands.
The counselor has indicated that the northern flank of the fire, in the El Reventón area, remains without active flames and on the southern flank, in the Jieque ravine, last night a bag was burned that was not burned inside the already affected area. In both areas, active surveillance will be maintained throughout the day, both with land and air means.
Regarding La Caldera, Nieves Lady Barreto reported that the flames did not advance considerably last night, although there is a lot of smoke, and it is expected that from eleven in the morning, with the change in temperature and wind, they could enter into full action the means of extinction.
The Minister of Territorial Policy, Territorial Cohesion and Water, Manuel Miranda, specified that during today, whenever the smoke allows it, aerial means and members of the National Park, the PRESA Group of the Cabildo de Gran Canaria, the EIRIF and the BRIF of the Cabildo de La Palma, supported by the Red Cross Mountain Team, which will be in the area in prevention work. These teams will work rotating two-hour shifts due to the difficult terrain and also poor air quality.
The counselor also commented that during the night drones with thermal cameras have flown over the affected area and it has been verified that, especially in La Caldera, there is a lot of cold area, there has been no revival of the fire and only a few hot spots remain.
However, he did point out that the air quality has worsened as a result of the smoke and has been bad in different towns on the island, for which reason the emergency services have already made recommendations for the population to take measures to try not to breathe the air that at this time -and until mid-morning- can continue with a not good quality.
Manuel Miranda stated that all these works will help to improve “substantially” the evolution of the fire in the next few hours, although he said that we must continue to be “cautious and cautious” in that there is no possibility that the fire can leave the perimeter, which today will try to be consolidated by air means.
A TOTAL OF 400 EFFECTIVES.
Thus, today a total of 400 troops will continue working to control the fire: 60 members of the Environment Department of the Cabildo de La Palma; 36 BRIF from La Palma; 17 BRIF support from Tineo (Asturias); 50 EIRIF; 24 members of the PRESA Group of the Cabildo de Gran Canaria; 13 firefighters from the Cabildo de Fuerteventura, 10 from the Cabildo de Tenerife and 7 from the Cabildo de La Palma; 16 troops from the National Park; 50 members of the EMU; 63 security forces and bodies; 40 volunteers; and 10 members of the Red Cross. Likewise, today there will also be nine aerial means -between helicopters and seaplanes-, coordinated by the Civil Guard helicopter.
On the other hand, the Minister Nieves Lady Barreto also wanted to recall that yesterday Monday, in the Governing Council, the request for aid from the Government of Spain was agreed to cover the damage caused by the fire, as well as the implementation of the aid decree for damage to property and belongings.
As for the situation of those sheltered, the president of the Cabildo de La Palma, Sergio Rodríguez, reported that only four people remain in the Severo Rodríguez Pavilion in Los Llanos de Aridane, one of whom will leave it shortly.
Two of the people sheltered are residents of the Hacienda del Cura area, which is still evacuated, and another is a resident of Tinizara who has lost his home and is waiting to be relocated by the Tijarafe City Council. The eviction of the residents of the El Roque neighborhood, in Puntagorda, and the upper part of the LP-1, from the El Jurado ravine to El Time, is maintained.
Likewise, Sergio Rodríguez commented that the accompaniments for the evaluation of damage to homes, crops and services are maintained, and the network of trails has begun to open, except in the areas affected by the fire.
