The Defence Minister, Margarita Robles, the Secretary General of Defence Policy, Admiral Juan Francisco Martínez Núñez, and the president of the Cabildo de Tenerife, Rosa Dávila, signed an agreement on Tuesday aimed at preventing forest fires on the island of Tenerife during the 2025 campaign.
Robles stated that “this agreement underscores the connection between the armed forces and the public, particularly in such an essential area as the prevention and deterrence of fires.”
“They can rely on the armed forces for any necessary support,” remarked Robles, while also emphasising the importance of cooperation between administrations, as this allows them to “work together for Tenerife, for Spain, and thus to grow.”
This agreement will build upon the successful collaboration established last year, which aimed to prevent natural disasters like those experienced on Tenerife in August 2023, via coordinated efforts between the Armed Forces and the Cabildo.
Dávila expressed hope that this agreement would enable “24-hour surveillance through land patrols monitoring the island’s most vulnerable areas and ensuring the protection of its mountains through deterrence and control measures.”
He also mentioned that the minister had conveyed the significance of this mission, highlighting the connection between the armed forces and society.
“Their commitment to this operation illustrates the vital role that our armed forces play in ensuring safety and protecting our territory, especially given the increasing risk of fires due to climate change. Furthermore, it has been confirmed that she will be present on June 7 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife to commemorate Armed Forces Day,” he elaborated.
The military’s involvement is part of the ‘Prometheus-Centinela Operation,’ which will commence on July 1 and continue until September 30.
Throughout the three-month period, the Army will undertake surveillance and deterrence operations, deploying up to ten daily land patrols alongside mobile maintenance units and essential command and control equipment.
The surveillance efforts will particularly focus on the island’s protected natural areas.
As a new feature of this campaign, the Army will provide two helicopters from the manoeuvring helicopter battalion VI, stationed at the Rodeos airport in Tenerife, to the Cabildo.
These helicopters will enhance aerial surveillance capabilities and increase the safety of deployed personnel.
