Between September 28 and October 1, various actions were carried out in La Gomera, as part of the PICAs project, to promote forest fire prevention. These initiatives, driven by the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Energy of the Government of the Canary Islands, were aimed at both students in educational centers and residents in urban-forest interface areas.
Minister Mariano H. Zapata highlighted the importance of bringing prevention into homes and classrooms, providing knowledge on self-protection against forest fires. The main objective is to inform about risks and preventive measures, especially for those living in areas close to the mountains, thereby fostering a shared preventive culture.
Educational activities included talks-demonstrations at the CEIP Temocodá in Chipude (municipality of Vallehermoso) on September 28, and at the CEIP El Retamal in Lomo del Balo (Valle Gran Rey) on September 29. Both sessions involved the distribution of educational materials and fire table simulations.
Additionally, door-to-door information campaigns were conducted in El Cercado and Las Hayas, directly engaging residents to provide information on self-protection and awareness regarding forest fires. These efforts continued until the morning of Thursday, October 1.
On Wednesday, September 30, the Neighborhood Center of El Cercado hosted a community meeting and a talk-demonstration. Aimed at residents from El Cercado, Chipude, Las Hayas, and the upper areas of Valle Gran Rey, the session focused on fire prevention, self-protection measures, and citizen participation in preventive risk management.
The PICAs project, funded by the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, aims to enhance the adaptive capacities of communities particularly exposed and vulnerable to forest fire episodes in urban-forest interface zones in the Canary Islands. In La Gomera, efforts have been made to strengthen coordination with the Cabildo, local entities, educational centers, and neighborhood associations to promote a shared preventive culture.
