Canary Islands face wildfire risks amid intense heatwave

The Canary Islands are facing high risks of forest fires due to an intense heatwave and dry conditions caused by an African air mass. Temperatures in the archipelago have reached up to 38 degrees Celsius, with some areas expected to hit 35-36 degrees.

In Gran Canaria, authorities have stabilized a fire in the palm groves of El Ingenio (Santa Lucía de Tirajana) and controlled another in Gáldar. The El Ingenio fire, considered high-potential due to extreme heat and low humidity, required the evacuation of six homes and the deployment of approximately 60 personnel alongside aerial support from the Ministry of Ecological Transition.

In response to the weather, the Canary Islands Government has maintained fire alerts for Tenerife, La Palma, El Hierro, and Gran Canaria. In Tenerife, the Island Council has activated Level 1 prevention measures across four sectors, prohibiting outdoor fires, smoking, and the use of certain machinery or pyrotechnics to minimize ignition risks.