SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 22nd Jul. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The head of the Cabildo of Tenerife, Rosa Dávila, and the lieutenant general and leader of the Canary Islands Command, Julio Salom, paid a visit to the Montaña Bermeja area on Monday, where they conducted a coordination meeting with those in charge of the forest fire operations of the Cabildo’s Brifor, the Firefighters Consortium, the Civil Guard and the Army.
Also present at the event were the Minister for the Environment, Sustainability, Security and Emergencies, Blanca Pérez; the Island Director for the Environment, Pedro Millán, and the Island Director for Security and Emergencies, Iván Martín.
The visit aimed to outline the operation that will be put into action during the summer months, with the Army contributing 920 patrols, enhancing the preventive work of combating fires to protect the mountains and the island of Tenerife. “It’s not just about the operational locations, citizen cooperation is crucial,” stated Rosa Dávila.
“This is the largest deployment in the history of the Canary Islands. It’s a system that operates almost year-round in the Cabildo and during the summer season involves 600 personnel with Brifor, Environmental agents, and the Firefighters Consortium, now complemented by the Army. The Army and the State’s security and enforcement agencies, especially the Civil Guard, are part of this collaborative framework,” explained the president.
Alongside the efforts in preventing and extinguishing fires, there are initiatives to monitor and identify arsonists. “Yesterday, we were informed of the excellent work carried out by Seprona, with one of the individuals who set fire to the mountain last year now in prison,” shared Dávila.
The president emphasized that the message to arsonists is clear: “We are closing in on them. There is meticulous and rigorous investigative work, supported by the courts and the Environmental Prosecutor’s Office. Tomorrow, we are convening a summit at the Cabildo to safeguard the mountains of Tenerife and combat arson. 90% of fires are human-caused, and at times, these causes are intentional, so we must put an end to arsonists.”
ARMY PATROLS.
On the other hand, the lieutenant general and leader of the Canary Islands Command, Julio Salom, mentioned that since July 1, Army patrols have been active in various designated areas by Cecopin, undertaking surveillance and deterrence duties. “Primarily, we need to raise awareness among people venturing into the mountains due to the fire risk. We are also collaborating with Seprona, Brifor, and Cecopin, coordinating the patrols,” mentioned Salom.
He highlighted that Operation Prometeo “was swiftly initiated as a response to last year’s fire.” “It’s not simple for Administrations to reach an agreement swiftly and efficiently. Our patrols are meticulously covering the mountain, simultaneously conducting their presence and surveillance duties, engaging with the civilian population. They are familiar with the terrain, as they traverse it. I believe it is a commendable operation for us, demonstrating commitment to the environment and the island, and the Army stands ready to assist in any way required,” Salom concluded.
