Tijarafe (La Palma) (EFE).- The advance of the forest fire that broke out on Saturday in the northwest of La Palma has slowed down overnight thanks to the change in weather conditions and the deployment of a hundred emergency personnel, but it has already entered the limits of the Caldera de Taburiente National Park, where work is being done to prevent it from spreading.
More than 4,000 hectares affected
As reported from the advanced command post by the President of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, and the Minister of Tourism, Héctor Gómez, the number of evacuees has not changed and continues at more than 4,000 residents and the affected area is around 4,650 hectares, mainly in Puntagorda and Tijarafe.
This Sunday nine helicopters and two seaplanes will take over in constant discharge routines to attack the main flanks of the fire and try to contain the flames, on which 152,000 liters of water have already been thrown in 241 discharges.
The night has favored the work against the fire, with a drop in temperature, an increase in humidity and a wind that has not been as strong as expected.
A couple of firewalls and counterfire actions were carried out that allowed the path of the fire to be cut.
The wind blows from the northeast in the morning, but the weather forecast points to a shift to the northwest from three or four in the afternoon, which will lead to reinforcing the attack with aerial means to prevent the thrust of the fire towards the Caldera de taburient
In the morning, the air resources, eleven in total, including one for coordination, have had to delay their entry into action somewhat due to cloud cover, but they are already operating in shifts with three or four in the air at all times.
More than 4,000 people evacuated
Of the more than 4,000 evacuees, some 200 have spent the night in shelters set up, attended by the Red Cross, and domestic animals have also been collected and stored.
There have been no new effects on homes. For now, twenty affected buildings have been recorded, including homes, tool rooms or warehouses.
Fernando Clavijo thanked the messages of support received by King Felipe VI, the Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, and the leader of the PP, Alberto Núñez Feijóo.
The EMU will strengthen its support
Minister Héctor Gómez stressed that this Sunday there is “a different framework” after the rapid evolution of the llamas on Saturday and highlighted the excellent performance of the operation, coordinated by the Government of the Canary Islands, and to which the State contributes two seaplanes and one extensive deployment of the Military Emergency Unit (UME), among other resources.
The UME is going to reinforce its support with 86 more troops who are in flight from the Morón Air Base (Seville).
Rafael García, director of the extinction operation, explained that in the Puntagorda area, the municipality where the fire originated and which remains fully evacuated, work is being done to cool the lower front of the fire to prevent it from advancing towards the lower part Township.
To the north, the strategy consists of preventing it from spreading beyond the Izcagua ravine and in the southern area, the helitransported teams and the UME are concentrating on extinction up to the El Time area.
In the Caldera de Taburiente, aerial means are used to contain the evolution of the flames in the National Park.
Marta Román, regional head of Civil Protection and Emergencies, has indicated that the LP-1 and LP-4 highways and the evacuations of people in Puntallana and in the center of Tijarafe remain closed.
He has urged that no one approach the area of the fire and that the instructions of the authorities be followed at all times.
The Tenerife forest fire is stabilized and its control is expected this Sunday
The forest fire that broke out on Saturday afternoon in Tenerife has already been stabilized and is expected to be controlled throughout the day if favorable weather conditions continue, with a decrease in temperature and wind and an increase in humidity.
After a new evaluation, the affected hectares have been 30, of the 60 estimated at first.
The air resources, two helicopters, have already withdrawn after evaluating the situation early in the morning and locating the still hot spots.
Eighteen members of the Cabildo de Tenerife fire operation work on land to consolidate and finish off the fire.
The president of the Cabildo de Tenerife, Rosa Dávila, and the technician Rodrigo Barbadillo have explained at a press conference the details of this fire, which was considered stabilized at 02:00 this Sunday.
On Saturday, a preventive evacuation of about 50 people was carried out, although in the end no houses were affected.
The Los Loros highway remains closed while the forestry brigades work to refresh the interior of the perimeter.