The Tenerife Local Council has activated the Island Emergency Plan due to the risk of forest fires. In light of the risk, the council has implemented Grade 2 measures, involving a set of prohibitions and recommendations:
Restrictions
- Prohibition of outdoor fires (including barbecues, bonfires, stoves, or gas cookers) in recreational areas, camping sites, and campsites
- Ban on using any machinery or tools that may produce sparks (such as brush cutters, welding equipment, or radial saws)
- Avoidance of pyrotechnic materials in high-risk areas
- Restriction on the circulation of motor vehicles for recreational purposes on forest trails
- Suspension of sports events and pilgrimages on forest and off-road tracks
- The hunting day for mouflon has been cancelled
Recommendations
- Avoid entering or staying in forested areas
- Exercise extreme caution with activities that could trigger fires (e.g., smoking)
- Implement self-protection measures against heat and smoke
Fire Alert Status
Since Tuesday, the Government of the Canary Islands has issued a forest fire risk alert for El Hierro, La Palma, La Gomera above 400 meters altitude, Tenerife in areas designated as high-risk by the Island Council (excluding the Arafo forest fire zone under Emergency status), and Gran Canaria above 400 meters altitude.
A temperature inversion is expected to persist, with altitudes below 400 meters experiencing relative humidity below 30% for several days. The average temperature rise in forested areas could exceed 10 degrees. This situation exacerbates the meteorological drought and rainfall deficit, particularly in the southern and western slopes of the islands.
