The Tenerife Cabildo will permit the pilgrimage to Candelaria via the Old Path and the TF-28 road on Thursday, 14 August, but due to the risk of forest fire, will prohibit access to the mountain, especially the Forest Crown, and the TF-1 motorway for safety reasons.
This decision was made on Monday during a meeting between the Minister for Natural Environment, Blanca Pérez; the island director for Safety and Emergency Services, Iván Martín; and the councillor for Safety, Emergencies, and Mobile Park in Candelaria, along with officials from the General Directorate of Emergency Services of the Government of the Canary Islands and the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) to discuss the situation on the island in the coming days.
Blanca Pérez states in a statement that temperatures may decrease slightly, but the alert for the risk of forest fires will remain in place in the coming days, thus it has been decided to allow the pilgrimage via the Old Path and the TF-28.
“With the risk of forest fire, we cannot have thousands of people in the mountains for safety reasons. The pilgrimage is permitted along the Old Path as it is not a wooded area, although we will establish a special device, and along the TF-28, which is used by thousands of people regularly,” explains Pérez.
Additionally, the company TITSA will reinforce services to facilitate the movement of pilgrims due to the Candelaria festivities on 14 and 15 August from the Avenida de los Menceyes next to the old Station, from Thursday, 14 August at 14:00 hours until Friday, 15 August at 17:00 hours, with stops from Calle Bélgica to Plaza de Teror being out of service.
Moreover, TITSA will establish a special service for line 522, which will operate between La Laguna-Motorway-Candelaria from 18:30 on Thursday, 14 August until 21:30 on Friday, 15 August.
The last departure from Candelaria to La Laguna will be at 23:30 with the same route in both directions: La Laguna-North Motorway TF-5-Link Road TF-2, South Motorway TF-1-Candelaria.
Pilgrims wishing to start their journey on the General South Road have several lines available during Thursday, 14 August, with their usual schedules, that can serve as links at the following points: Santa Cruz-Cruce de La Cuesta: lines 014 and 228; Santa Cruz-Cruce de Taco: lines 232, 233, 934, 936, 937, and 238; and Santa Cruz-University Hospital of Canarias: lines 015, 102, 103, and 108.
People travelling from the south of the island can use lines 111 and 711, which connect Santa Cruz de Tenerife with Costa Adeje via the TF-1 motorway, both to and from.
Pilgrims who have used the bus to travel to Candelaria will have free parking at the Interchange areas in Santa Cruz de Tenerife and La Laguna from 18:00 on 14 August until 23:00 on 15 August, upon presenting a ticket from lines 120, 122, and 522.
Additionally, the Cabildo reminds that as of yesterday, access roads to the forested area are closed due to the risk of starting a fire or having an incident, as the confluence of traffic and people would hinder evacuation efforts and the operational capabilities of forest brigades.
Thus, roads TF-21, TF-24, and TF-28 leading to the Teide are closed from 18:00 to 06:00 until Wednesday, 13 August, coinciding with the Perseid meteor shower.
The closures will be carried out by the Civil Guard, in collaboration with cabildo personnel.
From 14:00 on Friday, 8 August, it is prohibited for people to stay in the mountains and to cross the area, either on foot or by any means of transport, except for the use of easements for holders to access their properties and infrastructures.
Furthermore, the use of motor vehicles is prohibited in the network of forest tracks for recreational purposes.
Fires in outdoor areas such as bonfires, stoves, barbecues, and gas cookers are prohibited; as well as fireworks displays; use of machinery and tools that produce sparks and forest exploitation.
Additionally, hunting activity is suspended, and camping areas and campsites as well as the Miradores de Chipeque and Chimague will be closed.
Similarly, in accordance with the Tenerife Island Emergency Plan, all outdoor activities dependent on the Cabildo are suspended.
In light of the high-temperature episode, it is advised to take extreme precautions throughout the island with any activity that could generate fires, such as smoking in forest areas, using generators, electrical material, and pyrotechnics.
Likewise, this recommendation extends to private promoters of non-prohibited activities in the risk area to take necessary measures against the declared risk situation.
