Canary Islands under fire alarm: travel warning in front of forest fires!

Canary Islands under fire alarm: travel warning in front of forest fires!

Kanarische Inseln, Spanien - On June 5, 2025, the Canary Islands are on alert. The Spanish Weather agency Aemet has predicted an increased risk of forest fire for the summer months, which, in combination with persistent drought and above -average temperatures, leads to a critical situation. In particular, the islands of Tenerife, El Hierro, La Palma, La Gomera and Gran Canaria are currently under alarm. The warning has been activated and remains in force until further notice, while heavy fires in the past, like on La Palma and Tenerife in 2023, brought many people to safety.

The government of the Canary Islands has taken preventive measures to protect travelers and locals. Over 2000 emergency services, supported by 200 vehicles and 18 aircraft, are ready to intervene in an emergency. Reinforcement teams are now used on La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro, supported by mobile water tanks with a total of 36,000 liters of fire water. Drones are also used to support fire fighting.

precautionary measures for vacationers and locals

The Canarian government urged caution and published special rules of conduct. Open fire, such as grilling or campfire, is strictly prohibited in dry areas. In addition, cigarettes should not be thrown on the ground, and fireworks are also not allowed. When viewing smoke or fire, the emergency number 112 must be contacted immediately. The authorities make it clear that their own extinguishing attempts should be avoided.

In theory, the cancellation conditions for travel to the Canary Islands are clearly regulated. While package tours may be canceled free of charge if there is a direct danger, the respective flight and accommodation conditions apply to individual trips. An early return journey due to fires is possible under certain conditions, whereby additional costs must be distributed. However, a cancellation is not possible if the vacation begins in several weeks or the fire situation remains unclear.

causes of the forest fire risk

The risk of forest fire in the Canary Islands is favored by several factors. One main reason is the climatic conditions, including drought and the Calima, a hot, dust -containing wind from the Sahara. The local weather station also reported that spring was unusually dry, which significantly endangered the vegetation and thus the fire risk.

The fires in the Canary Islands are not isolated and are reminiscent of similar challenges that occur in other regions. Between 1991 and 2017, Germany recorded a significant decrease in forest fire areas, which, however, climbed over years with extreme drought, such as 2018 and 2019. These relationships illustrate the continuing challenges in fire prevention and fighting that affect all regions.