The battle against the fire on the mountains of Tenerife is also ongoing this year from the air. The helicopters involved in the second edition of Operation Prometeo, coordinated by the Cabildo de Tenerife and the Command of Canarias, showcase their capabilities in the fight against forest fires. This includes innovative night vision devices, supporting the 300 soldiers who patrol –32 each day– the protected natural areas of the Island until 30th September. In 45 days, halfway through summer, since the deployment began on 1st July, “there has not been a single incident,” claim with pride the officials and participants in this operation, also referred to as Canary Sentinel by the Army of the Earth. Their members work to maintain this momentum and ensure there are no scares or consequences.
Presence, vigilance, and deterrence. These are the three most repeated words by the soldiers throughout the morning to describe their tasks these days. Always in coordination with the Insular Centre, Cecopin, from where directives on restrictions to the public, positional coordinates, and almost detailed weather reports emanate, which are even more essential on these days of maximum heat alert.
There is also cooperation with the Forest Brigades (Brifor) of the Cabildo, their partners in the mountains, as well as members of the Guardia Civil and local police, who are alerted to any contingencies they may observe. And, of course, they emphasise the connection with the people they serve and with whom they engage daily during their breaks in shifts lasting between eight and ten hours. They insist on the good rapport and how they are received by a community “that values their mountain, their homes, and their lives.” From Lieutenant Colonel Noriega, the head of the operation, to Lieutenant Ramallo, and from Captain Miralles to Corporal Martínez, to Sergeant Baena, a pilot of one of the helicopters, or his companion Daniel Ortiz. They all reiterate whenever they can what they understand is their duty.
The soldiers of Prometeo highlight that their mission in the mountains is of “presence, vigilance, and deterrence”
From Hoya Fría to the mountains. The patrols set out, after a meticulous inspection of the vehicles, on their daily tasks along a defined route that these days takes them through two areas: Los Realejos and the south-north axis of Güímar and La Esperanza. No further details on locations or the specific nighttime interval “to avoid directing criminals,” someone jokes. A total of 32 soldiers, rotating every week – up until mid-September from the Tenerife Infantry Regiment 49 – with twenty of them divided into ten patrols, five for each of the two shifts distributed across the geography of Tenerife. Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
Soldiers are on alert both on land and in the air against fires in the mountains of Tenerife. They are adding the air battle to protect it to ensure what happened two years ago around this time, on 15th August 2023, during the Candelaria festival, does not happen again. That day marked the beginning of a devastating fire that burned over 12,000 hectares, affecting five municipalities. Everyone here is working hard to ensure it does not happen again.
Technological resources
The officers of Brigade 16 report to the Command Post about their technological resources. From the Tetrapo system, using satellite links, to the civil-origin application that allows viewing military patrols or Brifor in real-time. Or the specific Apollo application of the Army of the Earth. Material resources, but mainly human. They emphasize that they are not there to extinguish but to show presence, monitor, and deter. To access places with complicated topography, tracks, and paths, where only military means can reach. Captain Miralles bids farewell to his team, urging them to be cautious of overheating the 4×4 vehicles on these extremely hot days. Always attentive to the smallest detail.
The forces reiterate how “very positive” the effect they observe in the population is regarding their presence
The route ends for the special guests on this occasion, members of the media, in an open area where the two helicopters from the Bhelma VI Unit, based in Los Rodeos, have been incorporated this summer into Prometeo. Lieutenant Colonel Noriega Pérez explains, “The aerial patrols would be activated if the Cabildo deemed it necessary.”
The aircraft can perform up to 15 hours of flight, both daytime and nighttime. One helicopter is the civil model Alfa Sierra 332, numbered HU-21, or known colloquially as Super Puma, which is large. The other is the AS 212 (civil designation), HU-18 (military), called 212, which is smaller.
The crew highlights the capabilities these devices offer, describing them as “very versatile” and providing “many resources for different missions.” The Super Puma has a flight autonomy of about two and a half hours, and can carry up to 14 people plus five crew members at a speed of 150 kilometres per hour. The 212, on the other hand, has an autonomy of around two hours, a capacity to carry about four or five people, depending on the day’s weather, with a speed of also around 150 kilometres per hour.
Night Flight
The crew emphasises that “what makes us somewhat unique is the night flight, and related to that, the tools or materials we use to do so.” They value in this regard the innovation of the night vision device, which can be used simultaneously by all five crew members in the first case, or three crew members, expandable to two more, in the case of the 212: “It provides us with very interesting capabilities, especially during night missions. These are intensifiers of light, basically.” They appreciate the role of the flight operators who provide a different perspective from the pilots in the lateral angles and in the rear area.
Activation
Corporal Baena reminds that “we would be activated in case of a fire to locate where it is, if there is anyone who has become lost or, simply, to lend a hand from above. Whatever is required of us.”
Before departing, it is time for the briefing (instructions) on safety and emergency procedures to ensure the flight is conducted under the best conditions. They detail: “Both sliding doors will remain open at all times so that you can take photos, recordings, and whatever you need.” So far, so good, but a word of caution: “I recommend that if you are going to take the shot, do not extend it too far outside, as you may be startled by the force of the air and drop the phone, the camera, or both. It would not be the first time.”
Everything is under strict control during the morning. From stepping foot at the entrance of Hoya Fría, with ID presented, to the issuing of orders with the traditional military hierarchy: “Now we will distribute ourselves, ten here and four there. That helicopter will operate with the doors closed and this one with the doors open. Then we shall arrange ourselves and please provide the requested documentation.”
That’s it. Time to fly. Only a few minutes remain to prepare everything, and then the two black birds depart towards the forested area of the Island. They soar over it for half an hour before landing again. Those who have experienced it say it is worth it.
Pilots and crew members of the Bhelma VI Unit conclude as they began and emphasise what their ground colleagues highlighted: “Mission of presence, vigilance, and deterrence.”
