Canary Islands fires under control but tourists warned to remain alert

TWO huge forest fires on the Canary Islands have been brought under control by emergency crews.

The blazes forced the evacuation of 14,000 people from homes, hotels and camp grounds.

The Department of Foreign Affairs yesterday warned Irish tourists travelling to the resort islands to be alert. Between 10,000 and 15,000 Irish people are currently holidaying on the islands.

As Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero arrived to assess damage from the worst fires to hit the islands in 50 years, Tenerife’s local government said the blaze there was set deliberately, but no arrests have been made yet.

The fire on Gran Canaria was set by a 37-year-old forest ranger whose contract was about to run out and who wanted to keep working, police said, adding that the man has been arrested.

Tenerife’s government said the fires were brought under control in the morning due largely to an easing of winds that had gusted at up to 40mph, preventing water-dumping helicopters from operating on Tuesday.

No one has been injured. The fires have burned inland rather than at coastal resorts. Excursions for Irish tourists were cancelled, however, and the Department of Foreign Affairs asked travellers to be vigilant.

Tourists were warned the affected areas in Tenerife were the northwest of the island and a small area in the northeast.

On Gran Canaria, the southwest has been affected.

The department said the main holiday resort cities of Santa Cruz Tenerife and Las Palmas Gran Canaria, together with airports on both islands, were unaffected.

“The Department of Foreign Affairs does not advise against travel to the affected islands,” it said.

Concerned visitors should call the Spanish Emergency Services which have English speakers.