The forest fire declared this Thursday in Telde and Valsequillo has been stabilised after affecting between 8 and 10 hectares. The Forest Fire Investigation Brigade is investigating whether it was intentional due to the detection of up to seven simultaneous hotspots.
The forest fire that raised alarms this Thursday in the municipalities of Telde and Valsequillo has been stabilised, according to the technical director of Emergencies, Federico Grillo. As of early Friday, there are no active flames within the perimeter, although extinguishing teams continue to work to cool down hot spots and prevent the flames from reigniting with the wind.
The fire broke out shortly after 5:00 PM and affected an estimated area of between 8 and 10 hectares in the area between Las Breñas and Cazadores. Official stabilisation was achieved around 7:15 PM, following two hours of intense coordinated work by the Cabildo of Gran Canaria.
During the night, ground crews remained deployed in the area conducting surveillance operations on slopes and ravines, preventing the fire from entering deeper channels where extinguishing would have been more complex.
On-site, members of the Presa team, two Bravo units, and agents from the Forest Fire Operational Unit (UOFF) continue to work. The goal is to extinguish the hotspots that still retain high temperatures to prevent the wind from reigniting the flames, a task that will likely continue throughout Friday.
The Forest Fire Investigation Brigade (BIIF) is already working at ground zero to clarify the causes of the incident. Initial hypotheses suggest that the fire may have originated under an electrical line located between Las Breñas and Cazadores, but authorities do not rule out any possibility, including arson.
This suspicion arises due to the detection of several hotspots burning simultaneously in a straight line, a fact that caught the attention of the first responders on the scene. “Up to seven hotspots were initially counted by the Telde City Council responders,” official sources detailed, reinforcing the need for a thorough investigation.
The initial flare-up quickly transformed into a dangerous fire due to critical weather conditions: 29 degrees Celsius, 21% relative humidity, and dominant northeast winds that pushed the flames forcefully. The vegetation in the area, primarily composed of pitas, shrubs, and bush species, facilitated the fire's rapid spread towards the ravines.
Fortunately, an environmental factor worked in favour of the extinguishing services: the moisture retained by the deep vegetation helped to slow the spread, allowing the attack teams to operate more effectively. The preventive closure of the GC-120 and GC-130 roads was also key, as their layout served as an anchor to halt the advance of the front.
The response to the emergency was immediate, involving a total of six helicopters: two from the Cabildo of Gran Canaria, one from the Emergency and Rescue Group (GES) of the Government of the Canary Islands, and three from the Ministry of Ecological Transition. On the ground, in addition to the forest units, crews from the fire stations in Telde and San Mateo, Civil Protection, Local Police, Canary Police, Civil Guard, and National Police participated.
Despite the proximity of smoke and flames to certain populated areas, evacuations were not necessary. However, as a precaution, operatives were deployed to La Solana and Cazadores, advising residents to remain in their homes for safety.
The Cabildo of Gran Canaria has maintained an active surveillance device in the area, while the BIIF investigation continues to determine the exact causes of the fire. It is expected that in the coming hours it can be declared definitively extinguished, provided that weather conditions do not worsen.
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