The Cabildo of Gran Canaria has declared the fire in the Telde summit under control, having burned between eight and ten hectares. The breakage of supply infrastructures has forced the cut of drinking water to 203 subscribers for at least four hours.
The forest fire declared on Thursday afternoon in the Telde summit, between La Breña and Cazadores, has been brought under control this Friday after a night of intense work by a team of about 50 personnel. The fire, which has ravaged between eight and ten hectares of scrubland, grass, prickly pears, and tuna plants, has not caused personal injuries nor affected homes, although it has damaged water supply infrastructures, forcing the service to be cut for 203 subscribers in the areas of Cazadores and La Breña.
The president of the Cabildo of Gran Canaria, Antonio Morales, highlighted the speed of the intervention, which allowed the fire to be stabilised in less than three hours, thanks to the combination of aerial and ground resources and the residual humidity of the scrubland. During Thursday afternoon, a team was deployed preventively to La Solana and Cazadores to recommend confinement to the local residents, but the northeast wind did not push the flames towards the inhabited ravines, avoiding the worst-case scenario.
The efforts are now focused on cooling the area by ground brigades from the Cabildo, with the aim of cooling the ground and achieving a smoke-free situation. The GC-130 road, which connects Cazadores with the island's summits, has been reopened to traffic after being closed during the emergency.
The mayor of Telde, Juan Antonio Peña, has reported that the water cuts affect 203 subscribers from Cazadores and La Breña, and that repair work will last approximately four hours. Additionally, the collection service for items in the Cazadores area has been temporarily suspended until normality is restored.
Seven helicopters participated in the extinction of the fire: two from the Cabildo of Gran Canaria, one from the Emergency and Rescue Group (GES) of the Government of the Canary Islands, three from the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, and one from the Civil Guard. They were joined by ground teams Presa and Bravo, firefighters from the consortia of Telde and San Mateo, Canary Police, National Police, Local Police, and Civil Protection.
The Forest Fire Investigation Brigade (BIIF) is keeping investigations open to clarify the origin of the incident. So far, it has not been determined whether the fire was intentional or accidental.
Residents affected by the water cut should prepare for supply in the coming hours. The Telde City Council recommends that subscribers from Cazadores and La Breña follow the instructions of municipal services and, once the service is restored, let the water run for a few minutes before consuming it to avoid possible dirt residues.
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