Tenerife Firefighters have now been grappling with a relentless wildfire for over two months in the forests of the island. Since igniting on August 15th, this ferocious blaze has consumed more than 14,000 hectares, spanning a daunting 90-kilometre perimeter in 12 municipalities. While authorities had briefly declared it "technically controlled" nearly a month ago, a recent resurgence, fuelled by scorching temperatures and gusty winds, pushed the wildfire to emergency back to level 2.
Last week, approximately 3,200 residents were evacuated as a precautionary measure, and one home was burned to the ground in the higher reaches of Santa Úrsula. The president of the Tenerife Cabildo, Rosa Dávila, has confirmed that the displaced family has received temporary housing and their basic needs have been met, including the transportation of their child to the local school. Collaborative efforts between the Canary Islands government and local authorities are underway to secure long-term rental accommodation for the affected family.
With meteorological conditions expected to shift in the next few days, resources and efforts have been maintained at their current level to combat potential wind-triggered flare-ups. The Special Protection Plan for Civil Protection and Emergency Response to Forest Fires of the Canary Islands (INFOCA) has emphasized the persistent risk of reactivations due to erratic, gusty winds, especially as the heatwave subsides.
Firefighting teams have been confronted with an unusual challenge: an "underground fire." This subterranean fire is aggravated by high temperatures, low humidity, and the prevailing wind patterns, all of which have characterized Tenerife's environmental conditions since the beginning of October.
There are three main ways in which fire can advance and progress:
- Crown fire, which spreads between trees close to each other;
- Surface fire, which spreads above ground, fuelled by pine needles, leaves, grasses, bushes or fallen wood;
- Subsoil fire, is the most difficult to detect since it burns roots and other organic matter below the ground.
This latter type produces minimal flames due to the scarcity of oxygen. It remains hidden beneath the earth's surface because subsoil is not completely airtight.
Surface fires, finding a conduit through a tree stump, can creep underground through tree roots. Forestry experts have indicated that this type of fire is incredibly unpredictable, making it challenging to pinpoint areas of underground combustion during an extinction operation.
Authorities stress the importance of adhering to access restrictions in the fire-affected zones to facilitate the movement of emergency vehicles and prevent fresh outbreaks. Additionally, restrictions on the use of forest trails and the prohibition of open fires for recreational purposes have been reinforced to ensure public safety and further contain the blaze.
