The fire that affects the north of Tenerife continues to stabilize, without overflowing the limits of the established perimeter, and is advancing towards its control, although during the last night there were small reactivations due to some gust of wind resolved by the extinction teams. The 2,700 hectares of affected area remain, covering a perimeter of 27 km and including the municipalities of Los Realejos, San Juan de La Rambla, La Guancha and Icod.
The very hot and low-humidity day forced an enormous amount of work on the device made up of 150 combatants on the ground and 11 aerial means that operate on the perimeter, especially on the slopes of Tigaiga and Chanajiga, which act in a carousel and with control from the Cuco helicopter of the Civil Guard. Given the difficulty of action by land resources, it is the helicopters and the two FOCA seaplanes that must work “surgically, very carefully”, since large discharges of water cannot be made. This is because it could produce such a powerful blow of air that incandescent elements, such as pieces of wood or stones, can be dispersed and spread the fire further.
Throughout the day several hot spots were seen, which were practically not perceived in previous days, and which were reactivated during the day, therefore, the technical team for the extinction of the fire considered that it is not advisable to return home from the 38 residents of the Camino del Madroño y los Carozos, in Los Realejos.
Throughout today, the return to their homes of residents in the area closest to the slopes of Tigaiga and Chanajiga will be assessed again if the conditions of the night are favorable.
Another of the fronts that caused concern in the previous days, that of the Teide National Park area, was contained throughout the day and the work of the seaplanes and the Kamov helicopter worked “very well” and it seems that its evolution it is favourable. The impact has been relatively low, for now 226 hectares affected, of which 213 would be pine forest and 13 broom, along with the possible loss of some of the ancient cedars.
The strenuous firefighting work and the heat have led to three occupational accidents: an agent from the National Park suffered heat stroke and had to be evacuated by helicopter, while a BRIF worker and another from the EIRIF suffered injuries.
Undoubtedly, it will be necessary to remain vigilant in the coming hours, in which high temperatures will continue to be recorded, given the possibility of detecting small attempts “that will have to be contained”, according to experts, until the arrival of a humidity front.
