The Canary Islands Government has issued a warning about a high-risk summer season due to severe drought and heat, prompting a request to the State for additional and more capable water-transport helicopters to combat forest fires on the islands.
Manuel Miranda, the Regional Minister of Territorial Policy, Territorial Cohesion, and Water, made this announcement during a press conference following the weekly Governing Council meeting for the launch of a new public awareness campaign titled “At the first sign of fire, call 1-1-2,” aimed at enhancing forest vigilance.
Miranda also announced that the Government will participate as a plaintiff in any legal proceedings against arsonists, including the latest case of an arsonist arrested over the weekend in the south of Tenerife, accused of starting one fire and trying to start two others. The government is also considering claiming against arsonists for damages and the cost of emergency services mobilised in such cases.
The campaign emphasises the importance of immediate response to any sign of fire to prevent it from escalating into a major disaster, similar to those experienced last year in La Palma and Tenerife. The campaign will feature television ads, radio ads, social media posts, and billboard advertising, all urging the public to exercise extreme caution and vigilance.
Miranda has called for public cooperation in reporting any suspicious activity or behaviour in forestal areas. The emergency number 1-1-2 has already received over 800 calls this year related to around 40 forest fire incidents, all of which were successfully resolved thanks to citizen cooperation.
The incident that generated the most calls occurred in April in Tegueste, Tenerife, with 198 alert calls. This was followed by an incident in El Rosario, Tenerife, on July 14th, which generated 153 calls, and another in June in San Bartolomé de Tirajana, Gran Canaria, with 55 calls.
The Emergency Services Coordination Center (CECOES) has stressed the importance of remaining calm during emergency calls, providing concise and accurate information about the fire's location, potential threats to lives or property, and details about the type of vegetation and visible flames or smoke. Callers should also respond clearly to the operator's questions.
Since March, the Government of the Canary Islands has maintained the Forest Fire Emergency Protection Plan (INFOCA) on a preventive and extraordinary basis, escalating to alert status last week due to the first heatwave and worsening drought conditions.
Experts and Civil Protection technicians agree that the condition of the forests is particularly concerning, with the potential for fires beyond containment capabilities. Thus, swift and effective initial responses are crucial.
The coordinated forest fire response team, comprising the Canarian Government, Island Cabildos, and the State Administration, includes approximately 1,450 personnel, 174 intervention vehicles, and 18 aerial resources (17 helicopters and one ground-loading aircraft) this summer.
