Tenerife has equipped its eight associations of Volunteer Firefighters with 280 Special outfits. This investment of 258,000 euros will enable the purchase of new Protective gear and uniforms designed to facilitate their operations. The Cabildo of the island distributed 175 intervention uniforms and 105 technical rescue suits during an event attended by the Minister for Natural Environment, Sustainability, and Safety and Emergencies, Blanca Pérez, along with the insular directors of natural environment, Pedro Millán; and security and emergencies, Iván Martín. The equipment is designated for the groups in La Laguna, Tegueste, Güímar, Adeje, Guia de Isora, Santiago del Teide, Los Realejos, and Icod-Ycoden-Daute.
Blanca Pérez remarked that “we have provided the new uniforms to the eight volunteer firefighter associations in Tenerife for interventions both within and outside the island, as our aim is to ensure that volunteers operate under optimal conditions.” She emphasised that “they perform remarkable work in various emergencies that occur on the island, and we will continue to support them.” Iván Martín highlighted the importance of ensuring that the volunteer firefighters in Tenerife “possess the best possible equipment, and these state-of-the-art uniforms will empower them to conduct their duties under the most suitable conditions.”
The island’s natural environment counsellor, Blanca Pérez, alongside her deputy – to the left – her counterpart for mobility, and the Santacrucera councillor of this area, during a meeting with residents in Taganana. / Andrés Gutiérrez
Equipment
The delivered equipment comprises intervention gear tailored for interior fire and technical rescue suits designed for hazardous situations such as traffic incidents, confined spaces, or the extinguishing of forest and agricultural fires in rural regions. The first lot includes a total of 175 units of intervention clothing, certified to category III, featuring a protective multilayer system, with reinforcements in elbows, knees, and shoulders. This gear consists of a jacket and trousers that include monitoring systems for the state of the PPE (microchip, bar code), offering exceptional protection against heat, flames, and water ingress. The second lot, consisting of 105 units, incorporates items such as jackets or chaquetillas along with high-quality trousers.
Roles
The consortium for Prevention, fire extinguishing, and rescue in Tenerife has allocated a grant of 450,000 euros to the eight voluntary fire associations to assist them in covering the costs incurred from the services they provide. This financial support has been considered a significant advance towards the Strengthening of the system for emergency response on the island. The subsidies also aim to enhance the Collaboration between the Fire Consortium and volunteer associations to improve coordination and efficacy during emergency operations, thus benefiting the wider community. This contribution enables the associations to acquire necessary equipment, maintain their facilities and vehicles, and enhance the training of their members.
Background
The Volunteer Firefighters of Adeje commenced their journey in 1986 and have become a vital part of the history of safety and emergencies across the islands, being the first such group to exist in the Canary Islands to combat fires and perform various types of rescues. Their efforts have served as an inspiration for similar organisations in Tenerife, where the eight associations deploy approximately 600 personnel in response to major fires, such as those experienced during the summer of 2023.
