SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, Oct. 4 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Cabildo of Tenerife continues working on the fire that has affected the island since last August 15 with the aim of declaring it extinguished and wanted to remember that reproductions within the perimeter are common, which is why it has asked citizens for caution. and points out that grade 1 measures have been activated due to the risk of forest fire.
Today, Wednesday, there have been several reactivations within the perimeter in which various media have acted. Thus, during the day two helicopters from the Cabildo and two from the Government of Spain intervened and this afternoon the two helicopters from the Eirif of La Palma (Government of the Canary Islands) will join. Likewise, ground personnel and material resources from the Forestry Brigades of the Cabildo (Brifor) and the Tenerife Firefighters Consortium have been deployed.
The areas in which they have acted are Carril del Polvo (El Sauzal), Finca Los Arroyos (La Orotava) and Las Charquitas (Santa Úrsula). As a preventive measure, during the morning seven homes in El Sauzal were evacuated and their occupants returned to them after the fire was stabilised. Likewise, at midday around thirty people were evacuated from the area of La Atalaya and Vera del Barranco, in Santa Úrsula, and are waiting to return to their homes as soon as the fire is considered stabilized.
In addition, yesterday afternoon (Tuesday 3) there were three reactivations in the area of Las Charquitas, La Vica (La Matanza) and La Hornaca (Tacoronte) that were also controlled. On the other hand, today there was an outbreak in the Pino Alto area – outside the fire perimeter area – between the municipalities of Santa Úrsula and La Orotava that was also stabilized.
The insular director of Security and Emergencies, Iván Martín, pointed out that “this type of reactivation is common and even more so with the heat and low humidity situation that we have. It is a subsoil fire that is still active and when it reaches a pine it radiates or stump, since these burn and can cause these small reactivations.
“We have the teams working and although the smoke and flames generate some alarm, the technicians tell us that they are common and that in the coming days they will continue to occur. That is why we ask citizens to take extreme precautions, to avoid, to the extent If possible, go to the mountains and, in any case, follow the instructions of the authorities. Our priority is the safety of people and the measures taken are done to preserve it,” explains Martín.
FOREST FIRE RISK ALERT AND GRADE 1 MEASURES
Since yesterday (Tuesday 3), the Cabildo has activated grade 1 measures for the prevention of forest fires, taking into account the meteorological circumstances and the alert declaration decreed by the Government of the Canary Islands on the island of Tenerife. Specifically, it is prohibited to make fires outdoors, whether barbecues, bonfires, gas stoves, etc.; The use of any type of machinery or tool that can project sparks (brush cutters, welding equipment or cutting radials) is suspended and the use of any pyrotechnic material in risk areas is prohibited.
The Cabildo recommends not accessing or remaining in the forest areas of the island for the duration of the alert and taking extreme precautions throughout the island territory with any activity that could generate fires (tobacco, use of generator sets, electrical and pyrotechnic material , etc.). The restrictions corresponding to grade 1 of forest fire prevention will remain active until the alert situation ends.
