Forest fires season 2017

[Janet]

 Although there aren't any specific weather warnings in place, temperatures are expected to rise over the next few days, and the Canarian Government has issued a forest fire risk alert for the western islands and Gran Canaria from midday today. At present the alert is open-ended, and the public is urged to follow the advice from the Security and Emergencies Board – I've posted the English version HERE.

[Janet]

and now, as might have been expected in view of the new Canarian Government's forest fire risk alert, the Tenerife Cabildo has issued its on ban on fires in the mountains – which means any areas shaded in the map below. The ban will last until at least the end of the Canarian Government's forest fire risk alert, and means a prohibition on machinery likely to cause sparks, fires in the recreational areas, burning agricultural residue, bonfires etc. Firework displays are also banned near forested areas. The Cabildo urges the public to take extreme care in any activities that could cause fire.

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[Janet]

We still have a Canarian Government forest fire alert and a Cabildo ban on fire risk activities, but as of today the Dirección General de Seguridad y Emergencias has upgraded its alert to maximum risk of forest fire in the western islands. The DGSE's upgraded maximum alert is in place from midday tomorrow, Tuesday 22 August, and the Government asks the public to take the utmost care to avoid accidentally starting a fire, and to report any sign of a fire immediately. The English version of the official advice on forest fires is HERE.

[Janet]

 Bomberos have been in action in Tenerife and La Palma over the past 24 hours fighting fires that have broken out in both islands. The Tenerife incident last night involved two separate but fires in scrubland in the the La Orotava municipality near the border with Los Realejos. Thankfully the fire was not in the forested areas, and one of the two outbreaks of 300 square metres is extinguished and the other of 100 square metres is under control with firemen working now to put it out completely. The La Palma incident is currently ongoing and could be more serious since it's in the mountains above San Isidro in the Breña Alta area. It was discovered around midday and land and air teams are currently involved in fighting it, and as of 1.15pm, seem to have it contained so hopefully it won't be too long before they can announce that it's under control.

[Janet]

The Tenerife Cabildo has finally lifted the ban on fires in mountain areas, including the recreational zones and BBQs.

[Janet]

It might be September but it remains hot, and right now a fire in an aggressive phase is raging in Gran Canaria. Locals have been evacuated and people near the peaks have been told to come down immediately; roads have been closed, and land and air teams are firefighting. The video below shows the situation as released by the GC Cabildo just before 4pm. Thankfully in Tenerife we have no such misfortune, but it is not the time yet to let down our guard.

<blockquote class="twitter-video" data-lang="en-gb"><p lang="es" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AVISO?src=hash">#AVISO</a> NO SUBIR A LA CUMBRE. MRDIOS TAMPOCO. Quien esté en la cumbre que baje y se aleje, también de sus casas. Fuego en fase agresiva <a href="https://t.co/NQgZpcamQd">pic.twitter.com/NQgZpcamQd</a></p>&mdash; Cabildo Gran Canaria (@GranCanariaCab) <a href="https://twitter.com/GranCanariaCab/status/910516171841171456">20 September 2017</a></blockquote>
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[Nova]

Oh crap, that looks horrific!!!

[Janet]

even worse now ... declared a level 2 which means involving the Canarian Government, 1000+ hectares affected.

[Janet]

Latest ... fire front is 3km, flames over 20m high, army emergency unit now involved in firefighting efforts. The fire's described as "very virulent", and the smoke can easily be seen from satellite.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">Evolución de la nube de humo del incendio forestal en Gran Canaria. <a href="https://t.co/BoUrwluBJH">pic.twitter.com/BoUrwluBJH</a></p>&mdash; AEMET_Canarias (@AEMET_Canarias) <a href="https://twitter.com/AEMET_Canarias/status/910559180951613442">20 September 2017</a></blockquote>
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[Nova]

Is the seaplane on the scene yet?  Or has it already been given back to the penninsula?