SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, September 3 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Cabildo of Tenerife and the State Security Forces and Corps have intensified surveillance in the mountains of the municipalities affected by the fire due to the presence of people in the area.
According to the Island Corporation, during the weekend people were detected walking along the tracks and trails, as well as people on bicycles and horses, which poses a risk both for them and for the personnel working on the extinction tasks. .
The Minister of the Natural Environment, Blanca Pérez, remembers that in the mountains of Güímar, Arafo, Fasnia, Candelaria, El Rosario, Tacoronte, El Sauzal, La Matanza de Acentejo, La Victoria de Acentejo, Santa Úrsula, La Orotava and Los Realejos ” Grade 3 measures are applied.
“What this means,” he added, “is the prohibition of lighting fires, traveling on forest tracks and trails, and staying in the mountains. We are talking about an issue of safety for people, which is why we have intensified surveillance work in coordination with the State Security Forces and Bodies”.
Pérez has called on the population not to go to the mountains “because it is dangerous. The fire is not controlled and there are various risks such as falling trees and stones. We ask for caution and prudence.”
GRADE 3 MEASURES
The grade 3 measures applied by the Cabildo in the municipalities affected by the fire contemplate the prohibition of lighting fires in recreational areas and traveling on forest tracks and trails.
Staying in the mountains and making fires outdoors (bonfires, stoves, barbecues, gas stoves) are also prohibited; pyrotechnic displays and the use of machinery and tools that cause sparks. In addition, motor vehicles cannot be used on forest trails for recreational purposes. Hunting activity is prohibited in these municipalities, except in Güímar and Fasnia, where it is allowed.
APPEARANCE OF RAIN
Regarding the extinction work, the appearance of rain this Sunday meant that the operation was withdrawn and carried out surveillance and control work in the subsoil to prevent reproductions.
Thus, the helicopters have not been activated today due to the rain and a contingent of 31 people has been available for ground work, to which coordination and logistics personnel must be added.
Although rain is beneficial for extinction efforts, it can also generate small falls of stones and trees, so the workers who are part of the Brifor operation have to exercise extreme caution in their work.
ROADS
On the other hand, in terms of Roads, it must be remembered that the accesses to the Teide National Park through the TF-24 (La Esperanza) and TF-21 (La Orotava) continue to be closed to traffic to guarantee the safety of people and facilitate the extinction work. In addition, the TF-523 (Subida Los Loros) remains closed.
Access to the Teide National Park can be done through Vilaflor (TF-21) and Chío (TF-38) and it has been decided to modify the section of the Cable Car, moving it to Portillo Alto, so that people can access the restaurants located in the area.
As for the trails of the Teide National Park, the following are completely closed: Trail No. 1 La Fortaleza, Trail No. 2 Arenas Negras, Trail No. 8 El Filo, Trail No. 14 Alto de Guamaso, Trail No. 17 Igueque, Trail no. 20 Fasnia Volcano, Trail no. 21 Corral del Niño to La Yegua Blanca, Trail no. Butcher shop.
For its part, Trail No. 4 Siete Cañadas is partially closed: from the beginning at the El Portillo Visitor Center to its contact with Trail No. 30 Los Valles (Risco de La Papelera), while Trail No. 22 Lomo Hurtado is partially closed from the beginning in contact with trail nº1 La Fortaleza until its contact with trail nº33 Montaña Negra).