On Saturday afternoon, just after 3 p.m., a fire was reported in the picturesque mountain village of Fataga, just 20 minutes inland from Masplaomas, within the municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana . The fire originated in a palm grove next to the swimming pool of the wonderful little rural hotel, Molino del Agua, which was forced to evacuate its occupants, luckily avoiding any injuries from fire or smoke.

The fire is behaving forcefully according to emergency services. Environmental Units have reported that the fire is “uncontrolled and likely to spread”

Fire in Fataga

On Saturday afternoon, just after 3 p.m., a fire was reported in the picturesque mountain village of Fataga, just 20 minutes inland from Masplaomas, within the municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana . The fire originated in a palm grove next to the swimming pool of the wonderful little rural hotel, Molino del Agua, which was forced to evacuate its occupants, luckily avoiding any injuries from fire or smoke.

The fire is behaving forcefully according to emergency services. Environmental Units have reported that the fire is "uncontrolled and likely to spread"

Two ambulances from the Canary Islands Emergency Service (SUC) arrived at the scene , although at the moment they have not yet had to attend to any injuries, and in addition members of the Red Cross, Civil Protection and Environment Department of the Cabildo are intervening, as well as firefighters from San Bartolomé de Tirajana and agents of the Local, National and Civil Guard Police .

Due to the force of the flames, a helicopter from the Emergency and Salvage Service (GES) of the Government of the Canary Islands has had to be deployed and is intervening in the task of trying to extinguish the flames, and they have also requested that another aircraft fly from El Hierro to assist in combating the fire as temperatures have been high on Gran Canaria's south in recent days and so there is real concern of the fire spreading further and quickly..

Posted by TheCanary.TV on Saturday, March 16, 2019

Reports have come in of various people trying to assist, with animal enclosures having been opened in the hope that the horses and other rescued animals at the rural hotel and eco farm have been able to escape the flames.  The fire appears to have started in the palm grove beside the main swimming pool and restaurant area, next to the main monument and old water mill after which the hotel is named.

Due to the dry conditions there is real concern that the fire could spread towards the main village, with several private properties also in danger of being affected.

Two ambulances from the Canary Islands Emergency Service (SUC) arrived at the scene , although at the moment they have not yet had to attend to any injuries, and in addition members of the Red Cross, Civil Protection and Environment Department of the Cabildo are intervening, as well as firefighters from San Bartolomé de Tirajana and agents of the Local, National and Civil Guard Police .

Due to the force of the flames, a helicopter from the Emergency and Salvage Service (GES) of the Government of the Canary Islands has had to be deployed and is intervening in the task of trying to extinguish the flames, and they have also requested that another aircraft fly from El Hierro to assist in combating the fire as temperatures have been high on Gran Canaria’s south in recent days and so there is real concern of the fire spreading further and quickly..