Security and emergency units were deployed in the Gáldar area to educate the public on preventing and responding to forest fires near homes.
The event, focused on interface fire prevention, gathered around 40 personnel, including the PRESA unit of the Cabildo's Forest Firefighters, Gáldar's Civil Protection Group, Environmental Agents, municipal services, and two helicopters from the Artenara base.
Spokespersons from each unit explained to residents the role of emergency teams in immediate forest fire suppression. Borja Hernández, a helitransported technician for the PRESA teams, emphasized informing the public about risks and self-protection measures, such as maintaining a 15-meter vegetation-free zone around homes.
The exercise involved inspecting housing areas near the Caideros football field, simulating an intense fire spread to prevent homes from burning, highlighting the importance of clearing dry vegetation beforehand.
Subsequently, a practical demonstration showed how emergency services protect homes. Using a Civil Protection vehicle as a simulated dwelling, PRESA unit members sprayed water to create a wet barrier, containing the mock fire.
Itahisa del Carmen Suárez and Miriam Sosa, technicians from the Insular Operational Coordination Center (Cecopin), noted that Caideros residents expressed a lack of information on forest fires, particularly among the elderly. They appreciated these preventive drills for real emergency preparedness.
Attendees also inquired about safe agricultural burns, disposal of plant debris, and suitable machinery for hot periods.
Following the demonstration and Q&A, pilots Aarón García and Dani Puigbo performed an aerial display, collecting water from a pond in Lomo del Palo and dropping it on the football field to simulate a real fire. PRESA personnel then boarded the helicopters to extinguish the mock blaze, concluding the drill.
The choice of Caideros is significant as it was affected by the 2019 forest fire, which destroyed 9,500 hectares, severely damaging the Caideros cane field. The Military Emergencies Unit (UME) played a crucial role in safeguarding the population and extinguishing those flames.
