"Physically it is true that this leaves a mark because it is many days, but what hurts the most is the sadness of seeing hectares and hectares of totally burned forest." This is how Santiago Montesdeoca, a firefighter from the Lanzarote Security and Emergency Consortium, recounted his experience in Gran Canaria, where he has been collaborating in extinguishing the fire that has been affecting the neighboring island since August 10.
"You looked and saw fire everywhere and thought that nobody could stop this, especially at night, which is when it is most reflected," he said in an interview on Radio Lanzarote-Onda Cero, where he stated that "the impact has been tremendous." And it is that, in addition, for Santiago, who traveled to Gran Canaria together with two other colleagues from the Lanzarote Security and Emergency Consortium, it was the first time that he faced "a fire of these characteristics."
"But although we had little experience, we had a lot of desire and a lot of will," he stressed. "In addition, among us we had a colleague from the forestry issue who was a bit of a guide together with the colleagues from Gran Canaria, who we were going side by side with," he explained.
Specifically, the troops of the Lanzarote Security and Emergency Consortium traveled with a tanker truck, which has a capacity of 8,000 liters of water, to provide support work. "Where it was needed and they required us, we were doing what we could," said Santiago Montesdeoca, who stressed that, among other points, they provided assistance in Tejeda and Fontanales, towns that had to be evacuated.
Likewise, before returning to the island on Wednesday night to be relieved by a new team from the Security and Emergency Consortium, they were also checking the condition of some of the houses that had to be evacuated where, according to he has related, they had to feed some animals. "Although the owners had left them food, we have seen ourselves in that position," he pointed out.
Outstanding solidarity and coordination
But above all, if there is one thing that this firefighter from the Lanzarote Security and Emergency Consortium wanted to highlight, it was the "solidarity" that he has seen. "From the person who is at home and opens the door to tell you if you want a warm tea or anything to all the people who have offered to help or try with what they had," said Santiago Motesdeoca.
This Lanzarote firefighter also wanted to highlight the existing coordination in the extinction work, which he described as "outstanding", and thank the Security and Emergency Consortium, his colleagues, "and the political part" for having given them the "opportunity" to travel to Gran Canaria. "And being there we have always felt supported," he concluded.