Even though the evolution of the fire has improved, the reality is that it continues to advance through the island of Tenerife burning "out of control" through twelve municipalities (as Fasnia is now added to the list), with added concerns about air quality, according to the President of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, this lunchtime.
He stated this at a press conference earlier that he was giving the acting Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sanchez, who flew into Tenerife this morning to be updated on the situation of the fire on the island.
Clavijo said that the last 24 hours have gone well even though the fire now covers 13,300 hectares with a perimeter of 90 kilometres, and that last night went well, in fact, better than expected, but we mustn’t get carried away as it is still not under control.
In this sense, the active fronts in Izaña, in the Teide National Park, and the highlands of Güímar, are in the spotlight. "Most of the troops will be diverted to those areas," the Canarian president reported, referring to the operation that will take place during the day today (Monday). "The aim is to try to consolidate the upper part and cool the northern zone of the fire."
Clavijo admitted that the next few hours are going to be "very important" if the fire is to be stabilized soon, for which he hopes the weather will help.
Throughout today, 22 planes and helicopters will be in action 610 troops on the ground, of which 255 are firefighters, 197 are security, 40 for logistics, and 160 volunteers.
Concerns about air quality:
The president of the Cabildo de Tenerife, Rosa Dávila, explained: "We have managed to move the fire away from the ‘interface zone’, where the mountains coexist with the houses, but the quality of the air due to the fire, is very worrying, not just in the 12 municipalities it covers, but also in those surrounding it”.
"The smoke is very attached to the ground, which makes the air quality in the north of the island very bad, so we must take all the precautions we can to avoid inhalation,” she said, adding that the use of the FFP2 mask, especially for the population of the municipalities of Los Realejos, La Orotava, and Arafo is strongly recommended. In addition, she requested that people pay special attention to the vulnerable population and has advised restricting activities outside whenever possible.
