Forest fire in the Canary Islands threats World Heritage Site park
Forest fire in the Canary Islands threats World Heritage Site park
28 July 2007
published by www.eitb24.com
It is less than a kilometer (half a mile) from Garajonay National Park, but so far it is not spreading, officialssaid.
Spain — Crews in the Canary Islands battled two forest fires Saturday, one of which is threatening to spread to a national park classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The fire that broke out Friday on the island of La Gomera has charred about 150 hectares (375 acres) of pine, beech and other trees and some vineyards. It is less than a kilometer (half a mile) from Garajonay National Park, but so far it is not spreading, officials said.
“It is more under control than it was yesterday,” said Jose Ramon Darias, a spokesman for the island’s fire department.
Around 60 people who were evacuated from their homes Friday night were allowed to return later, and highways initially closed because of the fire have reopened, he said.
On the island of Gran Canaria, 100 firefighters struggled to contain a blaze that has burned 500 hectares (1,250 acres) of land, mainly pine forest, in the Inagua area. Temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit), low humidity and strong winds are complicating the effort, officials said.
