A fresh blaze was reported last night on Punta de Anaga Street in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, affecting four waste bins and a parked car in the vicinity. The fire erupted in a public area, producing a column of smoke visible from various locations throughout the region.
Emergency services responded promptly. Tenerife firefighters were deployed to extinguish the blaze, with assistance from the Local Police and the Emergency and Security Coordinating Centre (112 Canary Islands).
Alarm sounds again with the October wave
This incident is part of a string of similar occurrences that have taken place in recent months, particularly reminiscent of the spate of fires in October 2024, when the local police reported as many as 30 interventions within just 24 hours due to burning bins across various locations in the city. The first incident that month took place on Elías Bacallado street in Ofra on the 16th and quickly spread to other areas.
During that episode, the streets in Santa Cruz de Tenerife that were affected included: Venezuela Avenue, Joaquín Turina Street, Cuesta Piedra, Simón Bolívar Street, Estanislao Brotons Poveda, Elías Bacallado, and Domingo Pisaca Burgado. Aside from the waste containers, at least three vehicles suffered damage due to their close proximity to the blaze.
The severity and frequency of these incidents prompted the local police in Santa Cruz de Tenerife to request community assistance in identifying the individuals responsible, as the fires were linked and appeared to be the work of the same person or group.
The incidents also spread to nearby towns. In San Cristóbal de la Laguna, the Local Police intervened in the early hours of October 18 to tackle three fires reported on Virgen de la Paz streets, December twenty-six, and Avenida de los Menceyes. In these instances, the quick action of officers and local residents helped to minimise damage.
In response, the first Lieutenant of Laguna’s Mayor, Badel Albelo, ordered an increase in police patrols in the identified areas and coordinated efforts with Santa Cruz de Tenerife’s local police. Both entities have been operating under the guidance of the National Police Corps, which is investigating the potential links between incidents across the metropolitan area.
The fire that occurred this Sunday on Punta de Anaga adds to a series of attacks on urban infrastructure, posing material consequences and risks to nearby private property. As of now, no arrests have been made concerning this latest incident.
