The fire that has affected the mountains of Tenerife since last August 15 continues, three weeks later, without being under control. 110 personnel continue to work against the flames, working to put out the flames and prevent reactivations in hot areas. However, in the last few hours one of the Island Council’s helicopters in the La Orotava area has had to intervene due to one of these reactivations.
The central government declares Tenerife, La Palma and Gran Canaria catastrophic zones due to the fires this summer
Further
To these 110 troops are added coordination and logistics personnel, 15 people who carry out restoration work, 20 working on the adaptation of forest tracks and the rest of the personnel of Operation Brifor, which is deployed throughout the territory in surveillance and extinction work. .
In addition, this Monday there was an attempt in Garachico that was quickly controlled by the Brifors and that affected a room of tools and the surrounding vegetation.
The Cabildo of Tenerife recalled this Tuesday that the Special Civil Protection and Emergency Response Plan for Forest Fires of the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands (INFOCA) and the Insular Territorial Emergency Plan (PEIN) remain activated.
Measures in 12 municipalities
Also, it has issued grade 3 measures in the municipalities 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.
The grade 3 measures 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.
Nor can motor vehicles travel on forest trails for recreational purposes. Hunting activity is prohibited in these municipalities, except in Güímar and Fasnia, where it is allowed.
The accesses to the Teide National Park via TF-24 (La Esperanza) and TF-21 (La Orotava) remain closed to traffic to guarantee the safety of people and facilitate extinction work. In addition, 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.
Trails closed on Teide
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).
catastrophic zone
This Tuesday the central government approved the declaration of Tenerife as catastrophic zone for this fire, which has affected almost 15,000 hectares, with a perimeter of 90 kilometers and 12 municipalities affected. According to estimates made by the Cabildo, the damages reach a value of 80 million euros.
The declaration of a “catastrophic area” – declaration of an area seriously affected by a civil protection emergency – implies the adoption of measures such as aid to alleviate the costs of damage to homes or economic production, compensation to administrations for expenses or tax credits.
