Written by Adrian Galvan. | The impact of last summer’s fires in Tenerife will be challenging to erase. Despite the impressive regenerative ability of the Canary Island pine, the people of Tenerife have not forgotten the trauma of witnessing their mountains engulfed in flames a year ago. The sorrow felt at that time, with ash falling from the sky, and the helplessness experienced by everyone as they heard the seaplanes’ turbines flying over the capital, made it clear to most that a fire of such magnitude should not happen again in the future.
In response to this situation, the message from the Cabildo and its president, Rosa Dávila, in recent months has been unequivocal, declaring a “war on arsonists” and launching “the largest firefighting operation in the Canary Islands”. This year, the significant contribution to this innovative initiative has been the involvement of the Army, which, since July 1st, has dispatched 920 patrols to partake in protecting the mountains of the island in the Operation Prometheus, alongside the Forest Brigades of the island, the Fire Brigade Consortium, and the Civil Guard.
Every morning, Captain Sancho assembles his ten patrols to coordinate the day’s tasks. Prior to commencing, the military unit leader, in constant communication with the Cabildo agents, assesses and informs his team about the weather conditions and fire risk level for the day. This information is crucial for daily planning and, as Colonel Alberto Chelino emphasises, they had to quickly familiarise themselves with it.
Following the example of Galicia, which has integrated the participation of the Army and the Navy in the Marine Infantry since 2008, the Canary Islands have become the second autonomous community to deploy soldiers in their forests. As Chelino aptly states, their mission is evident: “To aid in the prevention of forest fires through the presence, surveillance, and deterrence of our patrols in all the areas where we operate,” noting, of course, that “our role is not to extinguish fires.”
The presence of these patrols not only serves as a formidable deterrent but also supplies additional personnel and resources to effectively monitor the forests. With the implementation of this new collaboration, technical resources have been enhanced, introducing 14 all-terrain vehicles, night vision gear, maps, and electronic devices like tablets and mobile phones with cartography.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the results have been overwhelmingly positive thus far, stating that security has improved, even in the mountain-adjacent areas, due to their presence. This daily deterrent effort, continuing until September 30th, is executed with pride by the military team, as the unit leader highlights: “We all undertake this with enthusiasm knowing that we are aiding the community.”
“The reception has been exceptional”
The recent operation necessitated most of the 32 deployed soldiers to adjust to tasks they had not performed previously. From the outset, communication with those with prior experience in these missions on the islands has been crucial. “Various reconnaissance activities were conducted with the Cabildo and Cecopin (Fire Extinction Coordination Centre), where we were briefed on the operations, the different fire risk levels, and their implications,” explains Alberto Chelino.
To facilitate communication among the various agents of Operation Prometheus, technological means are vital. Equipped with walkie-talkies provided by the Cabildo and connected through a shared application, the soldiers on the ground can not only contact Cecopin in any scenario but also track their locations. This enhances security, as highlighted by the Army, in case any patrol encounters an issue.
“Information dissemination is rapid,” notes Captain Sancho, mentioning that they have “a continuous monitoring hub overseeing the patrols’ movements. This data is recorded and relayed to Cecopin.” Additionally, “they furnish us with daily updates to carry out our tasks.”
In cases of fire detection, the patrols are solely responsible for reporting it, conceding that in some exceptional circumstances, they have directly intervened: “Just yesterday, one of our patrols in Güímar observed a bush on fire nearby. As it was in close proximity and a minor fire, our patrol intervened,” states Chelino.
Beyond surveillance and deterrence, the soldiers engaged in Operation Prometheus play a critical role in relaying information and interacting with the populace. Often, infractions arise from lack of awareness: “It is not uncommon for individuals to plan a barbecue or smoke without realising we are at level 1. Frequently, our role is to inform them that it is prohibited,” elucidates the colonel. A duty that, alongside others, is being embraced positively by the public.
