The forest fire that began on Tuesday night on Mount Arafo, in the east of Tenerife, now covers 5,000 hectares even though the work against the flames today (Friday) has been positive. It continues to burn out of control and the perimeter is now 50 kilometres in the municipalities of Arafo, Candelaria, El Rosario, La Orotava, Santa Úrsula, La Victoria, El Sauzal, Tacoronte, La Matanza and Guímar, affecting the pine forest, mostly in the mount of La Esperanza and the forest crown.
By municipalities, 44% of Arafo is affected by the fire; 35% of Candelaria; 20% of Santa Úrsula; 15% of La Victoria de Acentejo; 13% of El Rosario; El Sauzal 7%; La Orotava 5%; La Matanza 4%; and Tacoronte 1%, pending to see how much of the municipality of Güímar is affected.
This was revealed tonight during the press conference at 10:00pm giving the latest information about the evolution of the fire.
The President of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, has placed special emphasis on the magnificent work carried out today. “The hours are accumulating, they are tired, but people continue to give their all,” he said.
He also explained that the disheartening thing for today was that the fire has exceeded the Cho Marcial peak, which is why, as a precaution and because we don’t how the fire will evolve tonight, especially with the weather that is forecast with increased temperatures for tomorrow, it has been decided to proceed with new evacuations from El Pelado, Las Dehesas and Las Coloradas in the municipality of Güímar and the Izaña area; while some buildings have also been affected in La Lagunetas.
Meanwhile, tonight 226 troops will continue to work by land, with another 100 in terms of security at roadblocks and the like, and 40 for logistics. During the day tomorrow (Saturday), 265 troops will work in the extinction work by land, and there will be 19 air resources fighting the flames (17 for intervention and two for coordination). Today the seaplanes have carried out 81 passes filling up with water from Santa Cruz harbour before heading back up to the main area of the fire.
