Sunday, 18 August 2019 09:11

New Gran Canaria Fire Out Of Control Amid New Evacuations

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A new fire that started in the forest just above Valleseco in the northern Gran Canaria highlands has now burned over 1000 hectares of forest and countryside and is spreading.

The fire is now buring along a wide active front that runs all the way from Cruz de Tejeda and Fontanales to Artenera and Fagajesto. It is a very different fire from last's weeks blaze because it is burning through the tree tops rather than along the ground. Strong winds and high temperaures make it almost impossible to control. 

The red area on the map shows the current extent of the fire with the yellow areas showing last week's fires.

Over 2000 people from six municiplities have left their homes, including the population of Tejeda town which was evacuated for the second time in three days. Cruz de Tejeda was surrounded by flames last night but seems to have escaped serious damage. Fontanales town has also been evacuated.

There is no information about the cause of this fire although the press has reported that a small fire was started deliberately in the same area back in May.

In a rare spot of good news, a local animal-loving collective managed to get back up to rescue a donkey that was left behind at Cruz de Tejeda during the emergency evacuation of Cruz de Tejeda on Saturday evening.

Nine helicopters and two hydroplanes are currently battling the fire along with hundreds of firemen and forestry workers. Firefighting efforts are currently concentrated on protecting towns and homes and on holding back the flames at critical points to prevent it from spreading into new forest areas and valleys.

Most highland roads in Gran Canaria are blocked off. Please do not approach the area.

Note for visitors to Gran Canaria. This fire is a long way up in the Gran Canaria mountains and will not affect flights or the resort areas. 

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Read 94368 times Last modified on Sunday, 18 August 2019 10:45
Published in News
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Tip of the day

  • Tip Of The Day: Avoid Bank Card Charges By Paying In Euros
    Tip Of The Day: Avoid Bank Card Charges By Paying In Euros

    Save money and avoid rip-off bank charges while in Gran Canaria by paying in euros when using your credit or debit card.

    Many bars and restaurants in Gran Canaria, and in almost all European holiday destinations, give you the option of paying in euros or in your home currency. Opting for your own currency, while it may seem like the safer option, can add as much as 5% to the bill as it triggers dynamic currency conversion. 

    DCC basically means that the exchange rate is calculated at point of sale rather than by your bank. It allows you to see the total cost of the transaction in your own currency but adds up to 5% to the total because it uses a terrible exchange rate. 

    Since the extra money is shared between your bank and the merchant, some places will automatically bill you in your own currency and hope you don't notice. You have the legal right to refuse and void the transaction should this happen. 

    ATMs too

    The same applies when taking money out of ATM machines in Gran Canaria (and anywhere in Europe); Always choose the local currency option to avoid losing money to poor exchange rates.

    If you opt for the local currency option, using bank ATMs is often the cheapest and safest way of getting euros in Gran Canaria. It's far safer than having a big pile of euros hidden in your room or tucked into your shorts.

    More details in this Daily Telegraph article.

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