lhe kings of Spain participated yesterday in a frenetic nine-hour day in Tenerife to visit some of the places affected by the forest fire that started on August 15 in the Arafo mountains, chat with some affected people in this southern town and, in the afternoon, preside over the tribute to 69 people and entities that stood out for their work in front of fire. The Island Council and the Government of the Canary Islands They were distinguished for this at the Adán Martín Auditorium, in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, during an emotional event and with a packed Symphony Hall.
The morning meeting was already intense with a peculiar fire route. Felipe VI and Queen Letizia visited several symbolic points related to the fire, still unextinguished, which has been plaguing the Tenerife mountains for more than two months. Symbolism is the word that best defines this royal visit to the Island. Yours, that of the landscapes touched by the flames, that of the affected neighbors or that of those deservedly honored.
The Plaza del Cabildo in Santa Cruz was the meeting place for the three buses that made up the particular expedition. lof the mayors of the twelve affected municipalities – two thirds of the 31 on the Island – except Ignacio González, of La Matanza, who delegated his deputy mayor, Miguel Ángel Pérez.
The Kings would lengthen first to the Chipeque viewpoint, in the municipality of Santa Úrsula. The stop takes place at this seriously damaged emblematic point. Before, the delegation had to overcome the usual traffic collapse on the TF-5, at the Padre Anchieta roundabout, in La Laguna, and headed towards the TF-24, the La Esperanza highway, an environment severely punished by the fire.
Neighbors of the twelve affected municipalities thanked the 69 honorees
The wounds in the Mount La Esperanza are still more than palpable. Places that became extremely topical after the start of the fire, such as Las Lagunetas or Las Raíces, pass by and the traces of the fire are noticeable. The ascent continues along the winding road and, despite everything, on both sides… the mountain. The island nature is regenerated with green shoots and the Canarian pine as an indestructible emblem. There is life after environmental tragedy.
Mayors and press unite to the rest of the authorities, extinction technicians, law enforcement and military personnel who are waiting for the Kings. In Chipeque you have to wear a sweater. It’s cold and the fog doesn’t allow you to see practically anything. It seems that the day is also sad and, from the little that can be observed, it is no wonder. A desolate panorama of still life. After greeting, the Kings stretch out to check the result of the voracity of the flames that hit this area in August. He clarifies something, but there is no glimpse of Teide, sheltered behind a large cloud. Felipe VI and Letizia receive on a pristine information panel, probably for the occasion, explanations about what the destruction of a symbol of the Island and mountains like Chipeque means.
He accompanies Felipe VI and Letizia the Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles. The three are received by the president of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo; the president of the Cabildo of Tenerife, Rosa Dávila, as well as members of the extinction teams and the state security forces and bodies. They are also present the president of the Parliament of the Canary Islands, Astrid Pérez, and the Government delegate, Anselmo Pestana.
Always in front of the package panel, everyone receives explanations about the where, when, how and why of this voracious forest fire. They are offered by two faces known in recent months for their presence on television during the press conferences about the fire. Qedro Martínez Tito, head of the Territorial Forestry and Fire Management service of the Cabildo of Tenerife, and Montse Román, head of the Civil Protection and Emergency Response Service of the Government of the Canary Islands. They summarized the harshness and complications of the forest fire.
Clavijo thanked the volunteers for their solidarity work and the efforts of those who extinguished the fire.
The mayor of La Orotava, Francisco Linares, indicated that fires like the one Tenerife has suffered, which has destroyed almost 10% of its forest crown, “previously occurred every 6 or 7 years; but in the “The last eight have occurred at least once a year.”. For this reason, he asked the Kings to intercede so that the Canary Islands have a permanent air means base so that the response effect is as short as possible and the technicians decide whether to use seaplanes or helicopters. The mayor of Santa Úrsula, Juan Acosta, for his part, assessed: “We appreciate the rain, because it will help a lot.” He highlighted that only “a house and a tool room were affected, but we have preserved human lives. “The mountain will sprout.”
Arafo is the second stop on this fire route. From Chipeque to where it all began. In the afternoon, Felipe VI and Letizia will preside over the tribute to those who have fought on the front lines against the fire. More symbols. The bus goes down the road to Arafo. On the lower climatic floor the passage of fire is no longer so noticeable. The landscape of scattered scrubland replaces that of pine trees in close formation.
“Very high”
The Kings also traveled, in this case in an official car, the same route as the buses. They have seen firsthand the trail of destruction left by the forest fire in the mountains of Tenerife. Now they are going to meet the people, the neighbors of Villa de Arafo. Many look curiously at the doors of their houses. In front, the first arafero, Mayor Juan Ramón Martín. The procession passed in front of the Juan Carlos I Auditorium, still pending a name change.
The Cultural and Recreation Center hosts the meeting of the Kings with the authorities who have accompanied them or have joined them, such as those of the Government of the Canary Islands and the Cabildo, as well as a representation of local society. Above all, farmers and ranchers, given the weight of the primary sector in the municipality. Then in the square of San Juan Degollado, another key moment of the day will arrive: interact. A good part of Arafo’s 5,600 inhabitants are in the surrounding area. A lot of expectation, strict security control and a rigorous protocol. Inevitable.
The island saw 10% of its forest crown burned in August and September
“He is very tall and very handsome,” some ladies say. Arafo received Felipe VI and Queen Letizia with praise from the crowd. They finally appeared in the square after going up the street from the Town Hall. Ovations, shouts and greetings. The monarchs did not tire of shaking hands. The Queen carried the son of the singer and resident of the town Sislena Caparrosa in her arms, while several people shouted live the Kings. Like Yaya, a municipal worker, just like Dulce. They announce rain and ask them to hurry. They seem to listen to them, although Letizia and Felipe do not deny any greetings, they both seem friendly and close. They decide to leave the square and cross the street to attend to the numerous neighbors who are crowding in front of the fences.
Isabel Díaz Mesa, 73 years old, neighbor of Arafo and born here, in a “very funny and musical” town, she returned retired after working for 45 years in Puerto de la Cruz and was waiting for the Kings “to see their faces up close and look them in the face,” she says, because “the face reflects what people are like on the inside. She emphasizes: «Why shouldn’t I applaud them? “They say that maybe we shouldn’t keep them, but there is Parliament, full of rude people who do nothing for this country.” A complete defense of the monarchy from the most popular philosophy. Isabel was attentive to the walk. She is monarchical, but without excesses.
To those who risked their lives
The afternoon was reserved for tribute ceremony at the Santa Cruz Auditorium to those who risked their lives fighting the fire, 69 individual or collective heroes, people and entities. A simple and emotional ceremony, presented by Alexis Hernández, the voice of the Canary Islands, under the presidency of the Kings of Spain.
Neighbors from the twelve affected municipalities gave the honorees a souvenir in form of work of the blacksmith Moisés Afonso, which symbolizes the relationship between the Canary Islands and Tenerife with their forests through tea wood. The distinctions were awarded in the categories Coordination and Protection, Civil Protection volunteers from eleven city councils, public and private collaborating entities; local police, social services, volunteer groups and associations of the affected municipalities; extinction groups, volunteer firefighters and councils from the other islands.
I am from the land I live in, played by Chago Melián and Fabiola Socas with the images behind the video The heart of Tenerife. Simply amazing. Two more videos were projected, which also aroused applause from those who filled the Symphony Hall. One, to highlight unity through the professionals who came to help from other islands; the other, with the heartfelt testimonies of those affected.
In the Plaza de Arafo, Felipe VI and Letizia did not tire of shaking hands with the neighbors
The president of Cabildo of Tenerife, Rosa Dávila; that of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, and Felipe VI, that closed the speaking session and the event, agreed to highlight the coordination between administrations to face this environmental catastrophe and that the mountains of Tenerife will recover and green will sprout again on the Island.
Dávila stressed: «I am from the land where I live and in Tenerife there lives a people who fight tirelessly for the defense of their land, of ours. He added: “That falls and rises, that goes out and is reborn like the Canarian pine, our particular phoenix.”
Fernando Clavijo, for his part, thanked the King for his concern and the Government of Spain for its support. Also the solidarity work of the volunteers and their efforts to all those who have fought to extinguish the fire. He sent a message of hope, because “these twelve affected municipalities will overcome the hard blow and will sprout again.”
King Felipe VI recognized the work of the people and entities that intervened in the Tenerife fire as “an example of the best of our society.” Testimony of “the strength and unity of this Island, the Canary Islands and Spain.” He concluded: “United we are always stronger.”
