Santa Cruz de Tenerife (EFE).- A forest fire broke out this morning in the municipality of Puntagorda, on the island of La Palma, has affected several homes and has led to the evacuation of 32 residents of the vicinity, reported the Island council.
The fire originated around 1:05 a.m. in the El Pinar area, at kilometer 76 of the LP-1 highway, and its magnitude has led the Government of the Canary Islands to activate level two and assume the direction of the work extinction from 06.12 hours.
The president of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, follows the evolution of the fire from the Insular Operational Coordination Center (Cecopin) of La Palma.
The 112 has reported that the fire was declared in an urban-forest area and the territorial scope of the emergency includes the municipality of Puntagorda, made up of homes, crops, scrubland and pine trees with possible affectation to buildings and vehicles.
A shelter has been evacuated preventively and the residents of the municipality’s residence for the elderly are confined awaiting the evolution of the fire.
At first, the Red Cross set up a facility in Tijarafe for the first assistance to the evacuees, about 12 people.
Subsequently, for greater security, it has been decided to transfer it to another facility in Los Llanos de Aridane with a capacity for about one hundred people.
Land means of the Cabildo de La Palma, Brif of the Ministry of Ecological Transition, EIRIF (helitransported units) of the Government of the Canary Islands, Firefighters of La Palma, Canary Emergency Service (SUC), General Police Corps of the Canary Islands, Civil Guard, Local Police and Red Cross.
The air resources of the Government of the Canary Islands and the State have been activated and it is expected that the Military Emergency Unit will join the extinction work in the morning.
The municipalities of Puntagorda, El Paso, Tijarafe, Los Llanos de Aridane, Breña Baja, Santa Cruz de La Palma, Tazacorte and Garafía also collaborate in the deployed device.
Early in the morning, members of the Tenerife Fire Consortium, the Red Cross and the General Corps of the Canary Islands Police will travel by boat to La Palma and the Military Emergency Unit is expected to join the extinction tasks this Saturday.
The Cabildo de La Palma has reported that the electricity company Endesa has cut off the electricity supply to the affected properties.
The Advanced Command Post (PMA) has been located on the Tinizara sports fields, in Tijarafe.
The president of the Canary Islands has stated that he is in contact with the president of the Cabildo de La Palma, Sergio Rodríguez, and with the mayor of Puntagorda.
He has asked the population for great caution and that the recommendations of the troops working in the area be followed. EFE
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