Although in these times memory is increasingly fragile, due to the succession of events that are intertwined with each other and the kleenex capacity that news has on social networks, the truth is that this month of August, soon to end, will remain in our retinas as one of the blackest in the recent history of Tenerife. And not only because of the devastating fire in 7% of the island’s territory.
The quintessential summer month began with a heat wave almost never seen in the Islandswith temperatures above 40 degreesthese same maxims made possible shortly after the rapid combustion of a good part of our forest mass.
With these conditions, the festivities of the Patron Saint of the Canary Islands were celebrated, with the prohibition of pilgrimage through our mountains and the traditional paths. However, just as the image of the Virgin returned on the night of the 15th to the altar of her Basilica, a fire surprised the Güímar Valley above the Chivisaya viewpoint (Round Loin), just the same place where a month before another fire had started. At midnight, half an hour after lighting the fuse – everything points to intentionality – the first firefighters were already there. The wind and the dryness of the terrain made the fire run like wildfire from Arafo to Igueste, without the presence of the first helicopters in daylight being able to stop the flames. Thus, it grew until it caught the ridge and penetrated from El Rosario to La Orotava. a week of intense work by land and air it was necessary to consider stabilized the largest fire on the island of Tenerife in this century.
An event so atypical that it left an image never seen beforethe presence of ashes, even pieces of pine and needles, on the roofs of houses on half the island and even a huge oil slick on the beachesas occurred with those of the Güímar Valley. he paved (remains of needles or bark that rise together with the hot air and are detached due to the expansion of the pyrocumulus kilometers from the main source of the fire) was the great enemy for the forest crews, who miraculously did not suffer any damage, like the entire population from Tenerife, but which left a mark that is difficult to forget.
It makes us reconsider the idea of a new reforestation far from planting 1,000 pine trees in one hectare, as was done forty years ago.
Not saddened by the fire, August also left us the sad image of our beaches closed due to spills (El Médano)but above all for the presence of cyanobacteria (microalgae) againfrom the coast of Santa Cruz to Santiago del Teide.
The strong heat, the haze and the calm sea were enough for a new episode of microalgae, still present in our coves todayUnfortunately for our bathers.
And to top it off, this summer month also brought us the recovery of the masks. Poor air quality in up to 22 of the 31 municipalities de la Isla, due to the smoke from the fire, forced the authorities to recommend the use of the forgotten FFP2 from the COVID era, as well as not opening windows and doors, in addition to refraining from outdoor activities, being suspended infinity festive events and concerts; Puerto de la Cruz chose to resize its programming when the fire and smoke over the Valley of La Orotava.
The last big fire in Tenerife, now stabilized, It will not only be remembered for its environmental damage, but also for the episodes that were associated to him and that, in at least two weeks, life changed for the people of Tenerife, for the almost thirteen thousand who were evicted from their homes for a few days.
