A level three emergency has been declared in Tenerife after a fire erupted on an industrial estate and 40 firefighters worked to contain the blaze.
The fire broke out at around 7pm last night in a warehouse at the Valle de Güímar Industrial Estate on the east of the island, a region frequented by tourists visiting the Pyramids of Güímar. Firefighters worked through the night to prevent the fire from spreading from the pallet manufacturing facility to nearby units, although a neighbouring food storage warehouse was impacted. Residents and tourists have been urged to keep windows and doors closed to prevent smoke inhalation, and advised to avoid travel in the area.
The TF-1 motorway, which leads to the Tenerife North airport, was closed in both directions temporarily by the Guardia Civil due to huge plumes of smoke blocking visibility, causing significant delays throughout the evening.
Drivers have been told to exercise extreme caution since reopening.
One person was confirmed as injured during the incident, and two ambulances were dispatched as a precautionary measure.
According to Francisco Alonso, the Cabildo Councillor for Security, the fire spread rapidly from the original site to the adjacent facility, and residents reported several loud explosions.
Smoke was reportedly visible across the entire Güímar Valley after the fire in the warehouse, which was storing large stacks of highly flammable wooden pallets.
The Canary Islands Emergency and Security Coordination Centre (CECOES) confirmed the incident shortly afterwards.
The response team included 22 professional firefighters from the Tenerife Fire Consortium, supported by 16 volunteer firefighters from various stations around the island. Six members of the Cabildo’s Brifor forest brigade also joined the operation.
A post on X from Rosa Davila, president of the Cabildo de Tenerife (island government), showed fire engulfing the unit.