The Canary Islands Government has placed five islands on forest fire alert from 8:00am today (Friday 7th August), warning that dry conditions, strong winds and lingering heat continue to pose a serious fire risk despite a slight drop in temperatures.

The alert applies to all of Tenerife, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro, while Gran Canaria is affected in areas above 400 metres, as emergency officials say that although the recent heatwave has eased slightly, the islands' forests have not yet recovered from the prolonged period of extreme temperatures.

Dry forests remain highly vulnerable

Vegetation remains exceptionally dry, with relative humidity still below 30% in many forested and high-altitude areas.

Temperatures are expected to exceed 30°C across inland and mid-altitude areas, while moderate to strong winds with gusts of up to 70 to 80 km/h could rapidly spread any fire that starts.

According to the Spanish Met Office (AEMET), the Forest Fire Spread Index (IPIF) continues to indicate a high to very high risk across wooded areas of the archipelago.

Fire restrictions remain in force

With the Canary Islands' INFOCA wildfire emergency plan activated, authorities are urging residents and visitors to exercise extreme caution in and around forest areas.

The following restrictions remain in place:

• Lighting fires outdoors is prohibited, including agricultural burning and the use of barbecues in recreational areas.
• The use of machinery that could generate sparks, such as brush cutters, chainsaws, angle grinders and welding equipment, is banned in high-risk areas.
• People are reminded not to discard cigarette ends, matches, glass or rubbish in the countryside.
• Homeowners living near woodland are advised to keep a 10-metre vegetation-free safety zone around their properties and have a garden hose readily available.

Government alert has officially been activated (Image: Gobierno de Canarias)

Public urged to report any signs of fire

The Government is asking everyone to remain vigilant while the alert remains in force.

Anyone who sees smoke or a fire in a forested area should call 112 immediately so emergency services can respond as quickly as possible.

The authorities stress that preventing wildfires is a shared responsibility and that following the current restrictions is essential to protecting both people and the islands' natural environment.