The wildfire outbreak declared this Saturday in the Masca ravine, in Buenavista del Norte, has been stabilised after affecting nearly one hectare. The Civil Guard has arrested a 69-year-old man, a local resident, as the presumed responsible party.
The rapid intervention of the firefighting teams has allowed for the stabilisation of the wildfire declared in the Masca ravine, in the Tenerife municipality of Buenavista del Norte. The fire, which started around 12:00 hours this Saturday, has affected approximately one hectare of cane and broom, with some houses located about 50 meters away.
Arrest of the Suspected Author
The Civil Guard has arrested a 69-year-old man, a local resident, as the presumed responsible for the outbreak. According to the Tenerife Council, the arrested individual is being investigated for his possible connection to up to three fire outbreaks recorded in the same area over the past month and a half.
The agents managed to locate and arrest the suspect in less than two hours after the fire was declared. According to sources from the investigation, the arrested individual is believed to have ignited two spots that have already been extinguished. The accused will be brought before a judge once the proceedings are concluded.
Extinction Operation
The extinction efforts involved three helicopters (two from the Council and one from the Government of the Canary Islands), Brifor personnel, Environmental agents, firefighters from the Tenerife Consortium, and volunteers, as well as the Local Police of Buenavista del Norte and the Civil Guard. The island's Natural Environment councillor, Blanca Pérez, highlighted that a large operation with around twenty ground and aerial resources was deployed.
The swift action prevented the flames from spreading to nearby houses, although the proximity of the fire caused moments of tension among the residents. Fortunately, it was not necessary to evacuate any homes.
Ongoing Investigation
The arrested man, who has no known prior convictions for similar incidents, remains in Civil Guard custody awaiting judicial proceedings. Authorities do not rule out that he may be involved in other recent outbreaks in the area, although the investigation remains open.
The Tenerife Council has made a call for citizen collaboration to prevent wildfires, especially during high-risk periods. They remind that any negligent or intentional behaviour can be reported.
The Masca ravine, one of the most emblematic sites in Tenerife, has suffered several fires in recent years. This new outbreak, although small in scale, has once again put emergency services on alert.
