Yesterday, the Island Council of Tenerife congratulated and commended the investigative team of the National Police Force in Puerto de la Cruz-Realejos for their efforts in apprehending the suspected individual responsible for the Los Realejos fire that took place on July 14, 2023, and affected 2.6 hectares of vegetation.
In a meeting held yesterday, Island Council President Rosa Dávila, First Vice President Lope Afonso, Minister for the Environment, Sustainability, Security and Emergencies Blanca Pérez, and Island Director of External Action Pedro González, met with Chief Commissioner Eloy Román of the National Police in the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Chief Commissioner Ángel Gutiérrez of the National Police in Puerto de la Cruz-Realejos, and members of Group 2 of the National Police Force in Puerto de la Cruz-Realejos who conducted the investigation into the incident.
Subsequent to the investigation, the suspected perpetrator was apprehended and taken to court, and the trial took place at the beginning of July, with a verdict still pending. The Public Prosecutor’s Office of Santa Cruz de Tenerife has requested a five-year prison sentence and the payment of 35,000 euros in compensation to the Island Council of Tenerife, 4,200 euros to the Tenerife Firefighters Consortium, and 1,700 euros to the Canary Islands Government, the Island Council noted.
The president of the island highlighted the concerning fact that “between 2000 and 2023, 93 fires have occurred in the same area of Los Realejos, and this suspected arsonist may be linked to them.” Rosa Dávila emphasised that “we are declaring war against arsonists, and their actions will not go unpunished,” while also mentioning that “between 2023 and 2024, at least four individuals have been arrested for causing forest fires on our island.” She underscored the importance of coordination and information sharing between entities and security forces.
