Holidaymakers warned about Canaries wildfires

Visitors to the Canary islands of Tenerife and La Gomera are being warned about the dangers of wildfires.

The UK Foreign Office has updated its travel advice and is urging holidaymakers to check the Canary Government website for advice about the spread of the fires.

It says flights are unaffected but some roads have been closed and local residents evacuated.

Tenerife tourism officials have issued a statement reassuring holidaymakers that wildfires on the island are not affecting the coastal resorts.

It says the fires, which broke out on Friday in El Tanque, Los Silos, Buenavista del Norte and Santiago del Teide, are now under control and are limited to the mountainous parts of these locations.

It is strongly recommending that tourists avoid the area of the fire so they don't hamper the efforts of firefighters.

"The fire has been cordoned off in a specific geographic area, which means that all of the island's infrastructure is working smoothly, including the holiday attractions as well as tourist and leisure facilities, said the statement.

"The lighting of fires in recreational areas, burning clippings and bonfires are all strictly forbidden."

The fire in La Gomera has already destroyed 7,400 hectares of land and has damaged part of the Garajonay nature reserve, a Unesco World Heritage site.

Its local government has declared an 'unprecedented' emergency and has called on more help from the Spanish Government.

Meanwhile fires are also raging in parts of the Spanish mainland.

A firefighter and an environmental official were killed while trying to tackle a blaze in Torre de les Macanes, around 30 miles inland from Benidorm.


by Bev Fearis

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

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