The prevention of the mayor, Juan Ramón Martín, and a group of faithful to San Agustino de las Madres, served to save the small figure of the saint yesterday from the pastures of the flames that unexpectedly entered from the top of Los Frailes and burned outside part of the Añavingo ravine, where a small cave has its sanctuary for the figure that arouses so much devotion among the araferos, who every five years celebrate from that ravine to the church of San Agustín and San Bernardo, one of the most unique pilgrimages in Tenerife, which goes through one of the busiest paths in the Güímar Valley, between old water galleries. Añavingo is also a place where the flora and fauna have created an almost unique ecosystem, with species of butterflies that can only be found there, in that ravine sandwiched between enormous walls, which ceased to be the spring of the town, when the volcano of Las Arenas (1705) buried its source.
Juan Ramón Martín regretted yesterday that the fire, which initially seemed controlled in his municipality, jumped into the La Laja ravine, in the San Pedro gallery, and from there ran through Drago, Amance until it reached Añavingo, a boxed-in ravine rich in diversity, with almost unique species that will be difficult to recover, although it will take days to know for sure the damage caused. Until last night, the helicopters continued working on the flank to prevent the flames from spreading near the houses at the top of Arafo, already evicted as in the areas of Galván, Los Eres or Camino La Granja, recalled the saddened mayor. Some fifty people were evicted from these nuclei, many of them accompanied by their animals. The pavilion of CEO Andrés Orozco is still open, next to the Advanced Command Post, to house anyone who does not have a family member or friend to welcome them. Until yesterday morning only four people, with their pets, were still staying there.
