Gran Canaria's Cabildo has declared the fire in the high area of Telde, between Las Breñas and Cazadores, controlled as of 08:55 on Friday. The fire has affected an estimated area of between eight and ten hectares of scrub and grassland, with no personal damage or evacuations reported.
Gran Canaria's Cabildo has managed to control the forest fire that broke out on Thursday afternoon in the high area of Telde, between Las Breñas and Cazadores. As of 08:55 on Friday, the firefighting teams reported that the fire was stabilised, having burned an estimated area of between eight and ten hectares of scrub, grass, agaves, and prickly pears on wide and steep slopes.
Currently, the Cabildo's crews are continuing with cooling efforts in the area to achieve total extinction. According to the island corporation, there are no longer any hot spots or visible flames, and efforts are being made to achieve what is known as 'zero smoke'.
The fire, which started after 17:00 on Thursday, mobilised a large operation consisting of around fifty workers. Throughout the night and into Friday morning, the teams focused on the hot spots within the perimeter, successfully preventing the flames from spreading to nearby ravines, which posed the greatest risk.
The president of Gran Canaria's Cabildo, Antonio Morales, highlighted that the rapid intervention with aerial and ground resources, as well as institutional coordination, were essential to stabilise the fire in less than three hours after it was declared. It was also crucial that the vegetation maintained a certain degree of moisture, which slowed the fire's advance.
The flames initially spread driven by the dominant northeast winds at that time. The greatest danger lay in a potential leap to the ravines driven by tailwind, which fortunately did not occur. Morales emphasised the 'latent danger' posed by any forest fire in the midlands or peaks of the island.
There was no need for evacuations, although a preventive operation was deployed to La Solana and Cazadores, and the population was advised to remain in their homes. No personal damage was reported, nor were any homes affected, as clarified by the Cabildo.
The firefighting efforts involved two helicopters from Gran Canaria's Cabildo, one from the Emergency and Rescue Group of the Canary Islands Government, three helicopters from the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, and another from the Civil Guard with the aerial resources coordinator. On the ground, the Cabildo's Presa and Bravo teams, technical personnel from Cecopin, Civil Guard officers, Civil Protection, Local Police, the Telde Consortium, the San Mateo Consortium, Canary Police, and National Police were involved.
The mayor of Telde, Juan Antonio Peña, thanked the 'magnificent and tireless work' carried out by all security and emergency bodies. From the very beginning, he noted, 'they have fully committed to the intervention', highlighting the rapid and effective action of the Local Police and Civil Protection of Telde, in coordination with the rest of the administrations. Their professionalism, dedication, and responsiveness 'have been fundamental in protecting our municipality and our neighbours'.
The fire has caused damage to the water distribution network, which will temporarily affect supply in the areas of Cazadores and La Breña, with approximately 203 subscribers affected. Technical teams are already working on repairs, and the work is expected to last about four hours. Additionally, the collection service for items in the Cazadores neighbourhood will be temporarily affected due to the closure of the access road.
The G-130 road, between Cazadores and the Cumbre, has already been reopened to traffic. The Forest Fire Investigation Brigade of the Cabildo continues to analyse the circumstances to determine the origin of the fire.
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