Post-wildfire damage assessment in Tenerife, Spain (2023-08-24)

Activation date: 2023-08-24
Event type: Other

Activation reason:
The CEMS Risk and Recovery Standard (RRM STD) has been activated by the Spanish General Directorate of Civil Protection and Emergencies (CENEM) on behalf of the government of the Canary Islands (Spain), following the forest fire that broke out on the island of Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain) on 15th of August 2023. It initially affected the municipalities of Arafo and Candelaria, extending to another 10 municipalities and affecting protected natural spaces such as the Teide National Park, La Corona Forestal Park, among others. Given the seriousness of the event, the Copernicus EMS Rapid Mapping service was activated to follow the evolution of the fire.According to the last product delivered in the EMSR685 activation, the fire is no longer active since August 26, 2023. The CEMS Risk and Recovery service was activated in order to provide an assessment of the damage after the forest fire in the area.The Wildfire delineation and grading product has been generated by using post-event VHR satellite images. The analysis resulted in 11,966 ha burnt, of which11,053 ha have been slightly damaged, 826 ha moderately damaged and 87 ha highly damaged.The Impact assessment analysis on assets and population and the P15-Impact assessment analysis on selected aspect show that the fire ravaged inside a mostly unpopulated area but affected some buildings in the outskirts of the coastal villages of the island, as well as roads and cart tracks crossing the burned area in the mountains. The fire mostly affected forest areas (conifers and broadleaves).