Canary Islands government downgrades Gran Canaria wildfire alert

The Gobierno de Canarias, through the Dirección General de Emergencias, has updated the wildfire risk alert for Gran Canaria with effect from 08:00 on Friday 7 August 2026. The measure applies to parts of the island above 400 metres altitude.

According to the regional government's statement, El Hierro, La Gomera, La Palma and Tenerife remain on alert for the same risk. The decision was taken on the basis of information provided by the Agencia Estatal de Meteorología (AEMET) and other available sources, in application of the Plan Especial de Protección Civil y Atención de Emergencias por Incendios Forestales de la Comunidad Autónoma de Canarias (INFOCA).

The update marks a change from the situation in force since 2 August, when the government declared a maximum wildfire risk alert for Gran Canaria above 400 metres, effective from 11:00 on Monday 3 August, as reported by the Gobierno de Canarias news portal and the 112 emergency service.

Why the risk remains

The Dirección General de Emergencias notes that, although temperatures have fallen since the onset of the heatwave, vegetation needs time to recover and return to normal summer conditions. Temperatures will still exceed 30 ºC across wide areas, with the exception of low-lying zones on the northern slopes of the islands.

According to the statement, north-easterly winds will blow at moderate to strong speeds, with occasional very strong gusts that could reach 70–80 km/h. This airflow brings a surface air mass with greater humidity than in previous days, which may push the inversion layer up to 500 metres. However, at higher elevations — including central and wooded areas of the islands — relative humidity remains below 30 %.

Based on AEMET's Índice de Propagación Potencial de Incendios Forestales (IPIF), high and very high fire-spread risk values are still forecast across extensive forested areas on the islands' summits.

The situation on El Hierro

On El Hierro, the Centro de Coordinación Operativa Insular (CECOPIN) reported that the Dirección General de Emergencias declared a wildfire risk alert from 08:00 on Friday 7 August, with temperatures forecast to exceed 30 ºC, according to Gaceta del Meridiano citing information from the Cabildo. The same outlet reported that the Cabildo is maintaining the closure of roads and forest tracks leading to public woodland due to the high temperatures.

Advice to the public

The Dirección General de Emergencias is urging the public to follow self-protection guidelines. Measures publicised by local media include a ban on lighting fires outdoors, carrying out agricultural burns or using barbecues in recreational areas, as well as the use of brush cutters, chainsaws, angle grinders and welding equipment in at-risk zones. People are also advised not to throw cigarette butts, matches, glass or rubbish into the countryside.

For homes close to woodland, residents are advised to maintain a 10-metre vegetation-free buffer around their plot and to have a garden hose available. Should anyone spot smoke or fire in a woodland area, authorities stress the importance of calling 112 immediately.

The Canarian government underlines that the situation will be kept under continuous review, and that the geographic scope of the alert may be updated in line with changes in meteorological forecasts and fire-risk indices from AEMET and the regional government itself.