Three years have passed since the devastating forest fire in Tenerife, which ignited on the night of August 15, 2023, in the mountains near Arafo and Candelaria. The blaze scorched over 14,000 hectares across 12 municipalities and forced the evacuation of more than 12,000 residents. Today, the charred landscape is slowly healing, supported by the resilience of Canary Island pines, while a judicial investigation remains ongoing to identify the fire’s origin.
This incident marked a significant turning point in emergency management within the archipelago.
### August 15 to 24, 2023: A Sixth-Generation Fire Erupts
The fire began at 11:36 PM on August 15, 2023, close to the TF-523 road. High temperatures, low humidity, and shifting winds quickly escalated the situation into the first recorded sixth-generation fire on the island.
Within hours, the Canary Islands government took control of the firefighting efforts under Plan INFOCA at Level 2. Smoke clouds spread across the dorsal mountains into northern municipalities. For nine consecutive days, forest brigades, the Military Emergency Unit (UME), and aerial support battled flames across a 90-kilometre perimeter, threatening homes and leading to large-scale evacuations. By August 24, the technical team officially declared the fire stabilised.
### August 28 to November 10, 2023: A Long Path to Extinction
On August 28, 2023, the emergency status was downgraded to Level 1, and the Tenerife Cabildo resumed operational control. Despite occasional flare-ups in September and October due to extreme heat, firefighting teams maintained perimeter control.
On November 10, 2023, after nearly three months of continuous intervention, officials declared the fire officially extinguished. The aftermath revealed more than 12,000 hectares were burned, constituting 7% of the island’s total area, significantly impacting the Corona Forestal Natural Park and the Teide National Park.
### August 2026: Three Years On and Looking Ahead
Now, three years later, the forest is recovering at different rates. Canary Island pines have regrown vigorously in higher areas, while laurel forests and summit scrub require careful monitoring. Scientists from the CSIC estimate that full restoration of the original ecosystem could take between 30 to 40 years of sustained effort across the islands.
