He Plenary session of the Cabildo of Tenerife unanimously approved this Monday an institutional declaration made up of eleven points in which, among other things, a fixed base for high-capacity aerial means is requested —helicopters or seaplanes— for the fight against forest fires.
The agreement also urges the Government of the Canary Islands to promote to the Government of Spain the modification of the intervention protocol of the Military Emergency Unit (UME), approved by Royal Decree, so that it can be activated during level 1.
Likewise, the regional Executive is urged to implement and improve the means of the forest fire intervention and reinforcement teams (EIRIF) by creating a base in Tenerife, prepare the draft of the Canary Islands Forest Law and promote specific prevention plans.
The agreement also contemplates the approval and financial provision, as a matter of urgency, of a reforestation plan as well as promoting productive models that contribute to the strengthening and regeneration of biodiversity and the adaptation of ecosystems, agrosystems and the abandonment of agricultural land to scenarios of climate change.
The Cabildo will also promote studies to identify technological solutions that help extinction operations in real time, a specific program with the Official College of Psychologists of Santa Cruz de Tenerife to care for those affected and an action protocol between the Cabildo and the town councils, animal protection associations, livestock breeders’ associations and the Official College of Veterinarians for the evacuation of livestock farms, horse stables, animal shelters and pets of individuals in danger of fire.
Likewise, the drafting of a coordination and communication protocol between the different areas and services of the Cabildo and the town councils with the Insular Volunteer Office will be promoted.
EXPEDITE AID
In the administrative part, the approved agreement aims to streamline administrative procedures following the declaration of an ‘area seriously affected by a civil protection emergency’ and also establish aid for the primary sector, prioritizing beekeeping, damage to livestock and entities of the services sector that develops its activity in the natural environment.
The president, Rosa Dávila, has said that the fire, already controlled after almost a month of work, has been “terrible”, the worst in Spain in 2023, an “ecological and human disaster”, since at some moments it was “a monster with a life of its own” who walked towards the houses.
However, he has highlighted the “impeccable” performance of the firefighting services since there have been no human victims or lost homes, even though the economic and environmental damages have been set at more than 83 million.
Dávila thanked the “seamless support” of all the spokespersons of the Cabildo and especially the “good advice and suggestions” of the former president, Pedro Martín, while highlighting the “avalanche of solidarity” of Tenerife society and the management of the Canarian and central governments, which allowed more than twenty air means to operate, placing special emphasis on the Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, Héctor Gómez.
The president has once again insisted that the fire seems “intentional”, she has valued the “unseen coordination” between administrations and the contribution of the mayors of the municipalities affected by their “knowledge” of the land and the needs of their neighbors .
DÁVILA ASKS TO “DRAW LESSONS” FROM THE WORST FIRE OF THE YEAR IN SPAIN
He has pointed out that the island’s mountain “is a common good for future generations” and therefore, he understands that this fire will allow “lessons to be drawn” for the future, such as carrying out prevention work “all year long” and giving more stability to fire fighting personnel.
Dávila has once again defended that there be a fixed base for seaplanes on the island –a criterion qualified by the Canarian president, Fernando Clavijo– because there are “difficulties” in obtaining large-capacity helicopters due to the invasion of Ukraine –kamov cannot be acquired – and it will take time for Defense to make the Chinook types available.
Ana Salazar (Vox) has shown her “recognition and gratitude” to the firefighting teams because “they do not fight the fire from the ego” but with “courage” to save lives, property and the ecosystem.
In addition, it has charged against the previous government team for renouncing a technological project for the detection of forest fires, charged to European funds for almost seven million euros, and against “improvisation” when handling the provocation as a hypothesis of the fire without counting with the assistance of the Civil Guard.
AFONSO: TOURISM, SAFE
Lope Afonso, spokesman for the PP and vice president of the Cabildo, thanked the work of the firefighting teams and the work of the tourism sector, especially the Ministry and the Government of the Canary Islands, to “place abroad” a positive message that warded off security problems. facing the winter season.
He has highlighted the coordination and joint work with all the groups of the Cabildo because “it is what the citizens demand”, and he hopes that this spirit will be maintained for the work of environmental and economic reconstruction.
Afonso has been in favor of “having as soon as possible” a permanent base of helicopters or seaplanes – depending on what technical criteria advise – to deal with fires of this profile that will repeat themselves.
Blanca Pérez, from the Nationalist Group, has assessed that the damage has been “minimal” but it has been the “most complex” fire in recent decades due to bad weather conditions, with a lot of heat and “a lot of fuel.”
He has described the coordination work of all the teams as “magnificent”, has defended the advice of external professionals and has warned that in the future there will be more fires in the interface area that requires better polishing the protocols of forest brigades and firefighters .
MARTÍN QUESTIONS THE ROLE OF FEDERICO GRILLO
Pedro Martín, spokesman for the Socialist Group, has said that the fire has been “tremendous and terrible”, with damage and the fauna and flora of the island and many people evacuated, and has shown his appreciation for the work of all the extinction forces .
He has pointed out that with the fires “there is no partisanship” but he has missed more “collaboration and coordination” with the mayors, who were not summoned to the Pein meeting or never spoke with the Canarian president, Fernando Clavijo, “and “They found out what was happening through the media.” “This can be solved in the future,” he added.
He has not hidden that there was “hurry and tension” but there were difficulties with the distribution of food for those affected and with some evacuations, and he has reproached CC and PP for the “lack of leadership” of the Cabildo to deal with the fire.
He has said that “it is lucky” to have Federico Grillo in charge of the device but he does not understand that he has led the communication of a fire in Tenerife when he is a worker of the Cabildo de Gran Canaria, at the same time that he has reproached Dávila for the “hasty” announcement of requesting a seaplane base without technical endorsement and “unauthorized” by the Canarian president.
He also explained that the fire detection project was rejected for another “broader” one and that it was used to deal with all kinds of emergencies, not just fires, and he appreciated the support and rapid response of the central government.
