A total of 2,000 personnel, 200 vehicles, and 18 aerial units are ready to fight fires in the Canary Islands this summer. The Archipelago launched its forest fire campaign on Monday, on a day when, for the first time this year, a pre-alert situation was declared in the western province and Gran Canaria due to the risk of fires in the mountains from high temperatures. On the same day that the meteorological summer began—marking the end of the rainy season on the islands—and coinciding with high temperatures in parts of the Archipelago, the regional government declared a pre-alert in Tenerife, Gran Canaria, La Palma, La Gomera, and El Hierro. Recent days have been hot across various locations in the Autonomous Community, such as La Aldea de San Nicolás or Tejeda, where temperatures exceeded 28 degrees, according to the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet). In Tenerife’s capital, recent days also saw high temperatures reaching 26 degrees on Monday, prompting many residents and visitors to head to Las Teresitas beach, where queues formed to access the parking area. There were also days of intense heat, even above 30 degrees Celsius, in the midlands of southern and western Gran Canaria.
The aerial resources are provided by the regional government, the island councils, and the State. Summer weather has been slow to arrive this year, but it will be a risk factor for forest fires in the Canary Islands over the coming months.
Favorable Conditions
This year, according to Vicky Palma, head of the Risk and Planning Unit of the Emergency and Security Coordination Center (Cecoes) 112, “the campaign begins with more favorable climatic, meteorological, and environmental conditions than in previous years, thanks to the rainfall recorded in spring, in March and April of 2025.” “However, there are areas in Tenerife and Gran Canaria where it has rained 25% less than normal,” she notes.
Aemet’s forecast for the summer indicates a 70% chance of warmer-than-normal average temperatures. In terms of precipitation, the western islands have recorded 37% more rain compared to last year’s average, while the eastern islands have seen a 20% increase. The seasonal forecast does not show any trend in precipitation, although it typically does not rain in summer.
That is why the resources made available by the Government of the Canary Islands, the island councils, the municipalities, and the State are already prepared, the regional Executive confirmed. The device allocated by the Canary Islands is composed of the Forest Fire Reinforcement Teams (Eirif) based in La Palma, La Gomera, and El Hierro; the Emergency and Rescue Group (GES), and the operatives of the national parks of La Caldera de Taburiente and Garajonay. Additionally, they have seven large-capacity inflatable tanks that are quick and easy to set up to improve logistics in locating remote water points in forest fires.
Of these seven tanks, three have been delivered to El Hierro, La Gomera, and La Palma, with the other four located in Tenerife and Gran Canaria. The stock of fire retardant has also been increased, with 36,000 liters available for the Air Tractor or other light helicopters, along with two portable kits to ensure the availability of retardant on any island for the Air Tractor based in La Gomera.
Deployed Resources
Added to this are the forest brigades dependent on the island councils, particularly those with a significant forest mass, as well as the professional and volunteer fire services of the island and municipal consortia.
The State contributes to this campaign through the Emergency Military Unit (UME), whose bases are in Gran Canaria and Tenerife, and the Reinforcement Brigade in Forest Fires (BRIF) of the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, based in La Palma. The aerial resources remain the same as last year, totaling 18, of which eight belong to the Government of the Canary Islands, four to the island councils, and six to the State’s fleet. There are also drones available for preventive tasks and emergency situations.
Notes: Practices to Avoid Disasters
Do not discard lit cigarettes or matches while walking or through car windows. Do not leave trash or litter in the forest. Avoid launching rockets, firecrackers, or fireworks in danger areas, agricultural lands, or urbanizations near the forest. Remove branches touching house facades and have basic tools and a water reserve ready. In case of having animals, prepare an emergency backpack with a foldable carrier, animal documentation, water and food containers for two or three days, collar, leash, waste bags, and a first-aid kit if the animal is under treatment. Ensure it is correctly identified and contact details are updated.
