Tenerife on fire again

[Perikles]

If it were up to me, whoever started the fires would have to come and lick the stuff off my patio daily.

Too risky, they would probably set your house alight.

[Janet]

The active east flank of the fire which was approaching Santiago del Teide is now stable and the approach has been halted, but it is not yet "under control" and emergency services say its development will depend on what weather conditions the day brings. What is now causing particular concern, however, is the west flank, in the Monte del Agua, in the Erjos-El Tanque area.

Air resources involved at present are two Gobcan helicopters, the Environment Dept's Kamov, and a Cabildo helicopter. Also firefighting are the Cabildo's Brifor (forestry brigade), the army, Consorcio de Bomberos, Red Cross, AEA (Anaga Emergency Services),  Servicio de Urgencias Canario, TRAGSA (private environmental contractors), Policía Local, Policía Canaria and Guardia Civil.

The TF-82, TF-373, and the TF-436 all remain closed.

[Janet]

The east flank of the fire which was approaching Santiago del Teide and which was declared "stable" a couple of hours ago has at last been declared "under control". Residents of the Valle area are expected to be allowed to return home in the next few hours. Right now, the majority of attention is being devoted to the west flank in the direction of Buenavista del Norte. JA

[Janet]

The Canarian Government has requested a fourth water plane to help fight the fires on Tenerife and La Gomera. It is expected to arrive tonight.

[Nova]

About time too!

[Janet]

 The residents of six areas have now been authorized to return home. These are Ruigomez, San José de Los Llanos, El Palmar, Teno Alto, Lagunetas and Las Portelas. Erjos, Masca and Valle de Arriba remain evacuated. Efforts are now focused in stopping the fire reaching Masca.  JA

[Nova]

The "Canary Islands" fires have just hit the international news with Sky

[Janet]

The evening press conference brings some better news for Tenerife. Controlled access has been allowed to Erjos and Masca, though Erjos remains evacuated because of the presence of combustible material in the area. Only Los Carrizales now remains fully evacuated. Sadly, the waterplane expected this evening has a fault and will not now arrive until tomorrow. The authorities hope that the fire will be stabilized tomorrow.

[Janet]

 The Tenerife Cabildo's evening press conference acknowledges that the fire's perimiter has, in fact, increased: it is now 14km rather than 11km, and the damage has increased from 220 hectares to 360. Some 300 people remain evacuated. Let's hope for better news tomorrow.

[Janet]

The morning's Cabildo press conference brings some hope. At midday, assuming no adverse changes, the  Tenerife fire will be reduced to level 1, bringing firefighting efforts back under control of the island authorities. They are getting there, and some firefighting resources are now being sent to help in the crisis on La Gomera. Here, another fire broke out at Icod overnight, but that was extinguished rapidly. In total, some 269 hectares have been affected by the fire, and some 255 people are still evacuated as of this morning. The investigation into the cause of the outbreak is being investigated.