SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 18th April. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Government of the Canary Islands is trialing the use of portable rafts to provide helicopters involved in extinguishing forest fires with water. This initiative aims to tackle the water scarcity caused by drought, enhance the frequency of water releases, and introduce the use of retardants in the tasks carried out by these aircraft.
The Minister of Territorial Policy, Manuel Miranda, confirmed this on Thursday after witnessing a demonstration of these new components in the mountains of Candelaria, Tenerife.
“We are currently experiencing the most severe drought period on record. We have had the driest and warmest winter ever documented. There are concerns that the ponds and reservoirs on the islands may not have sufficient water to supply the helicopters used in firefighting operations before summer. Therefore, we are exploring new systems to ensure the aerial fleet’s water supply, should the need arise. It is crucial to be proactive and prepared before it’s too late,” he stated.
To achieve this objective, the Department of Territorial Policy, Territorial Cohesion, and Water of the Canary Islands government have organized training sessions to assess the use of these new tools in combating forest fires. These sessions, conducted by the General Directorate of Emergencies, target personnel from the government and island councils in a bid to enhance coordination and optimize resources during firefighting activities across the islands.
The training primarily focuses on personnel involved in firefighting operations, such as the intervention and reinforcement teams in forest fires (EIRIF), as mentioned in a statement from the Ministry.
The training sessions have encompassed both theoretical and practical exercises, including a field test carried out in the Chivisaya area in southern Tenerife, where new retardants were deployed using a vehicle equipped with a motorized pump and fire extinguisher backpacks.
Retardants are chemical compounds that, when mixed with water deployed on flames, help reduce and halt the progression of the fire front. They also slow down the rate at which the fire spreads by acting on unaffected materials, thus allowing for a slower consumption rate.
Familiarizing firefighting teams with these elements through training enables them to comprehend their composition, functionality, management, and application during firefighting operations, thus boosting their effectiveness.
Concerning the portable rafts, these are two inflatable tanks serving as water refill points for helicopters involved in firefighting. Recently acquired by the Canary Islands government, they have undergone training on their installation and the necessary location requisites for operators.
In a field test conducted on Thursday, the MI41 helicopter filled one of the 56,000-liter capacity rafts. Subsequently, the aircraft could refill its water tank, known as ‘bambi’.
IN EXCESS OF 80,000 LITERS
The two portable rafts will transport water to areas lacking recharging points for aerial operations, with capacities of 56,000 and 25,000 liters of water respectively.
With diameters of 6 and 4 meters, heights of 1.7 meters, and made of PVC material, these rafts are vital for enhancing firefighting capabilities.
In March, the Minister of Territorial Policy, Territorial Cohesion, and Water of the Canary Islands government, Manuel Miranda, issued a special pre-alert declaration under the Canary Islands Plan for Civil Protection and Emergency Response to wildfires (Infoca). This action was prompted by the elevated wildfire risk posed by the islands’ mountains due to prolonged drought and high temperatures.
The pre-alert will remain active as long as the conditions sustaining the wildfire risk persist. It followed recommendations from an expert panel comprising specialists in emergencies, climatology, and firefighting, such as Federico Grillo, Montse Román, Miguel Ángel Martín, Vicky Palma, and Pedro Martínez.
