VIDEO: Latest helicopter footage shows intensity of Tenerife forest fire

The latest video footage from one of the helicopters battling the forest fire in Candelaria and Arafo in Tenerife, shows how quickly it is spreading and the intensity it is burning at, which is rarely seen this clearly in the daylight.

There have been three of four small outbreaks this week but this is what the authorities have been dreading due to the extreme heat, low humidity, and now winds which are fuelling this fire.

What you can see in these images is why they have issued fire warnings, why access to Teide was closed for the Perseids this weekend, and why firework displays have been postponed in certain areas for the bank holiday fiestas.

However, it is not ruled out that a firework started this fire taking into account the time of day it started (just before midnight), the location (Candelaria where the pilgrimage was to last night), and the date, 15^th August (Asunción de la Virgen).

The Canary Islands Government has now requested the assistance of three seaplanes from mainland Spain which are on their way from Malaga to help fight the fire. The concern is that this will turn into an emergency not seen on the island for more than 15 years since the fire of 2007.