Latest news with #INFOCA
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Daily Mail
Tourists and Spanish locals forced to evacuate after wildfire near beach resort
A dramatic forest fire near a beach resort in southern Spain has forced the evacuation of tourists and locals. Multiple aircraft have been roped in to tackle the inferno, which took hold in Cadiz in Andalusia on Tuesday afternoon. Specifically, the flames are spreading in the hills of Torre de la Peña, behind the hugely popular resort of Tarifa. According to the Andalucia firefighter service INFOCA, there are gusts of 20-25km/hr that are favouring the fire's spread. The fire is snaking very close to the N-340 highway and the Estrecho Natural Park - the former of which has been partially closed between Las Piñas and Pedro Valiente. Meanwhile, all bars, restaurants or hotels have been evacuated between La Peña and Casas de Porros, reports local newspaper Europa Sur. According to the local police, the fire started in a motorhome at the Torre la Peña campsite, which also had to be evacuated. The flames then blew westward, away from the campsite, and spread rapidly through a hilly and grassland area where homes and tourist establishments are scattered - including the Wawa Hotel, which is reported to have been affected by the fire. Several beach bars and 'chiringuitos' have also been evacuated due to the large amounts of ash being carried down to the shore. The blaze was first reported at around 4pm on Tuesday. The current firefighting operation involves five helicopters, two water-carrying planes, a coordination plane, five forest fire ground crews and more. Tarifa is often branded a 'surfer's paradise' due to its extremely wide beaches and tall waves. It comes just days after blazes erupted in Portugal, Greece, and Spain, while tornadoes struck tourist hotspots in parts of Spain and Switzerland. Thousands of firefighters battled a dozen wildfires raging in northern Portugal and central Spain into Wednesday, in the largest wave of blazes in the Iberian Peninsula so far this year following weeks of summer heat. The largest wildfire burned in the wooded, mountainous Arouca area - some 300 km (185 miles) north of Lisbon - since Monday, leading to the closure of the scenic trails of Passadicos do Paiva, a popular tourist attraction. Some 800 firefighters and seven waterbombing aircraft tackled the blaze. 'There was a huge effort during the night, so now we have a somewhat calmer situation,' Civil Protection Commander Helder Silva told reporters, cautioning that shifting strong winds and a difficult terrain meant their work was far from over. 'It's a very large wildfire in areas with difficult access,' he said. Further north, a blaze raged from Saturday in the Peneda-Geres national park near the Spanish border, enveloping nearby villages in thick smoke that led to orders for residents to stay at home. Portuguese firefighters managed to control two large fires that started on Monday in the central areas of Penamacor and Nisa. Authorities said the Penamacor blaze had destroyed 3,000 hectares (7,413 acres) of forest.
Daily Mirror
29-07-2025
- Daily Mirror
Canary Islands put on 'high alert' as Brit tourists warned to take caution
Five hotspots in the Canary Islands - including Tenerife - have been issued a 'high alert' warning that prohibits tourists and residents from taking part in a slew of common activities A 'high alert' warning has been issued across five popular hotspots in the Canary Islands, including Tenerife. Authorities across the tourist-riddled archipelago, located off the coast of northwestern Africa, have urged tourists and locals to take 'extreme caution' as high temperatures and dry, windy weather conditions have increased the risk of wildfires. Temperatures are expected to reach a scorching 34C in parts of the region in the following days, while highs of 37C have been forecast for Gran Canaria. Meanwhile, strong winds above 30km per hour are also slated to shift across the islands. On Monday, July 28, at 8am, level one prevention measures were reportedly activated in Tenerife, while wildfire alerts were also extended to El Hierro, La Palma, La Gomera and Gran Canaria. At the time of writing, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura seem to have dodged the alert. According to local news site Canarian Weekly, the Canary Islands Government has implemented the INFOCA wildfire emergency plan, which prohibits those on the island from having BBQs or open flames in recreational areas or outdoor spaces. Tourists and residents are also prohibited from smoking in forest areas, trails, campsites, or public use areas in the mountains. Even spark-producing tools such as chainsaws and strimmers are said to be banned during the level one restrictions, as well as letting off fireworks in or near forested zones. "Residents and visitors are also strongly advised to avoid entering forested areas during the alert period," the publication added. The alert follows a wildfire outbreak in La Palma, which is believed to have been caused by human activity. Authorities have therefore urged the public to 'remain vigilant' and report any signs of smoke or fire immediately by calling 112. Back in 2023, forest fires in Tenerife ripped through more than 15,000 hectares of land and resulted in around 12,000 people being forced to evacuate. Again, this blaze was blamed on arsonists, but shows just how quickly fires on the archipelago can spread - especially during the dry season. The warning follows a slew of deadly wildfires that have spread across Europe during the sweltering summer months and resulted in tragedy. As previously reported, more than 1,500 people were recently evacuated in Turkey as blazes continues to ravage regions across the country. One firefighter has tragically died while attempting to quash an inferno in the country's fourth most populated city, Bursa. The city's mayor Mustafa Bozbey added that more than 7,000 acres of land had been scorched by the fatal fire too. Thousands of people were also forced to flee as wildfires hit two major Greek islands and villages near Athens this month - with two homes being burn down to the ground in the blaze. You can read more about the Turkey and Greece wildfires here.
Daily Mirror
27-06-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mirror
Heatwave and fire risk prompts double 'danger' alert on popular holiday islands
As temperatures are predicted to soar over the next few days, an 'alert situation' in the Canary Islands has been declared, with forest fires one of two high-risk factors A double danger alert has been issued in the Canary Islands with extreme temperatures expected to return this weekend. The warning affects four of the islands, with weather experts predicting the mercury will hit 37C within days. The General Directorate of Emergencies of the Government of the Canary Islands has also declared an alert situation on the island of Gran Canaria due to two high-risk factors. It covers the extreme danger of forest fires, as well as the impact of an episode of high temperatures. Both decisions are based on the application of the INFOCA and PEFMA plans, activated by the forecast of the State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) and other specialised sources. The first alert responds to the Special Civil Protection and Emergency Response Plan for Forest Fires (INFOCA). It will come into force from 8am on Saturday June 28, in areas located above 400 metres of altitude in Gran Canaria. The second alert has been decreed under the Canary Islands' Specific Emergency Plan for Risks of Adverse Weather Phenomena (PEFMA). In this case, it is an alert for extreme maximum temperatures, which especially affects the summit and the east, south and west slopes of Gran Canaria, where between 34C and 37C is expected. In the rest of the Canary Islands, the pre-alert situation is declared, with the exception of La Palma and the north of Tenerife below 700 metres, which are outside the warning for now. The areas most exposed to this heat episode: North of Gran Canaria - temperatures between 26C and 32C El Hierro, La Gomera, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura and eastern, southern and western slopes of Tenerife - maximums of 30C to 34C Summit and south of Gran Canaria - between 34C and 37C In the face of this double alert, authorities insist on maximum caution. Outdoor activities in the middle of the day are discouraged and agricultural burning, barbecues and the use of machinery that can generate sparks in risk areas are prohibited. In addition, it is recommended to hydrate frequently, stay in cool places, avoid prolonged sun exposure and be attentive to updates from official emergency services. The situation will be re-evaluated depending on how the episode evolves over the weekend, but from this Friday, Gran Canaria enters the phase of maximum surveillance.
National Post
19-06-2025
- Business
- National Post
Globalstar and Technosylva Support Global Wildfire Response and Firefighter Safety With Satellite-Powered Digital Solutions
Article content DUBLIN — Globalstar (NASDAQ: GSAT), a next-generation telecommunications infrastructure and technology provider, announces the continued global expansion of its collaboration with Technosylva, the leading provider of wildfire and extreme weather modeling and risk management. Technosylva's integrated fire behavior modeling and incident management platforms are used by fire agencies across North America, Latin America, and Europe. Article content The latest milestone in this partnership includes a continued deployment with INFOCA, Andalusia's regional fire authority, and one of Europe's largest emergency response organizations. Through Technosylva's Wildfire Analyst™ and fiResponse™ platforms, powered in the field by Globalstar's SPOT satellite devices, firefighters gain real-time situational awareness, enhanced coordination, and life-saving connectivity even in the most remote and hazardous environments. Article content SPOT devices enable precise GPS tracking and emergency signaling, integrated directly into fiResponse. Firefighters can send instant location data with the touch of a button, supporting rapid dispatch of emergency teams – even in GSM-denied areas. These devices have been proven effective in live deployments across Spain, the U.S., Canada, and Latin America. Article content In Spain, INFOCA fast-tracked the deployment of SPOT Gen3 devices in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic to support first responder operations. By 2022, 550 devices had been deployed, while neighboring Castilla La Mancha has been using SPOT since 2015. 'Increasing wildfire threats require integrated, intelligent solutions,' said Joaquin Ramirez, Founder & CTO at Technosylva. 'Spain understands that fire behavior modeling, advanced communications, and real-world field operations must work in concert to improve firefighter safety and decision-making.' Article content Mark O'Connell, Globalstar's General Manager for EMEA and APAC, added, 'We're proud to support Technosylva and INFOCA in equipping fire agencies with critical satellite technology to help save lives and protect communities.' Article content Technosylva's growing international presence includes major firefighting agencies in the U.S., including agencies in Texas and Georgia, who use the system's predictive analysis to model fire spread and allocate resources more effectively based on live and forecasted environmental conditions. Article content Register here Article content to join the upcoming webinar, 'The Keys to Enhancing Safety & Efficiency in Firefighting Operations' on June 30 to learn more. Article content About Technosylva Inc. Article content Technosylva is the leading provider of wildfire and extreme weather modeling, risk mitigation, and operational response software. Technosylva's market-leading solutions, enhanced by AI and machine learning capabilities, provide real-time and predictive insights into developing wildfire and extreme weather risks to support electric utility, insurance, and government agency customers. Founded in 1997, Technosylva has offices in La Jolla, CA, León, Spain, and Calgary, Canada. Learn more at Article content About Globalstar, Inc. Article content Globalstar empowers its customers to connect, transmit, and communicate smarter – easily, quickly, securely, and affordably – offering reliable satellite and terrestrial connectivity services as an international telecom infrastructure provider. The Company's low Earth orbit ('LEO') satellite constellation ensures secure data transmission for connecting and protecting assets, transmitting critical operational data, and saving lives for consumers, businesses, and government agencies across the globe. Globalstar's terrestrial spectrum, Band 53, and its 5G variant, n53, offer carriers, cable companies, and system integrators a versatile, fully licensed channel for private networks with a growing ecosystem to improve customer wireless connectivity, while Globalstar's XCOM RAN product offers significant capacity gains in dense wireless deployments. In addition to SPOT GPS messengers, Globalstar offers next-generation Internet of Things ('IoT') hardware and software products for efficiently tracking and monitoring assets, processing smart data at the edge, and managing analytics with cloud-based telematics solutions to drive safety, productivity, and profitability. For more information, visit Article content Article content Article content Article content Contacts Article content Media Contact: Article content Article content
Business Wire
19-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Globalstar and Technosylva Support Global Wildfire Response and Firefighter Safety With Satellite-Powered Digital Solutions
DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Globalstar (NASDAQ: GSAT), a next-generation telecommunications infrastructure and technology provider, announces the continued global expansion of its collaboration with Technosylva, the leading provider of wildfire and extreme weather modeling and risk management. Technosylva's integrated fire behavior modeling and incident management platforms are used by fire agencies across North America, Latin America, and Europe. The latest milestone in this partnership includes a continued deployment with INFOCA, Andalusia's regional fire authority, and one of Europe's largest emergency response organizations. Through Technosylva's Wildfire Analyst™ and fiResponse™ platforms, powered in the field by Globalstar's SPOT satellite devices, firefighters gain real-time situational awareness, enhanced coordination, and life-saving connectivity even in the most remote and hazardous environments. SPOT devices enable precise GPS tracking and emergency signaling, integrated directly into fiResponse. Firefighters can send instant location data with the touch of a button, supporting rapid dispatch of emergency teams – even in GSM-denied areas. These devices have been proven effective in live deployments across Spain, the U.S., Canada, and Latin America. In Spain, INFOCA fast-tracked the deployment of SPOT Gen3 devices in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic to support first responder operations. By 2022, 550 devices had been deployed, while neighboring Castilla La Mancha has been using SPOT since 2015. 'Increasing wildfire threats require integrated, intelligent solutions,' said Joaquin Ramirez, Founder & CTO at Technosylva. 'Spain understands that fire behavior modeling, advanced communications, and real-world field operations must work in concert to improve firefighter safety and decision-making.' Mark O'Connell, Globalstar's General Manager for EMEA and APAC, added, 'We're proud to support Technosylva and INFOCA in equipping fire agencies with critical satellite technology to help save lives and protect communities.' Technosylva's growing international presence includes major firefighting agencies in the U.S., including agencies in Texas and Georgia, who use the system's predictive analysis to model fire spread and allocate resources more effectively based on live and forecasted environmental conditions. Register here to join the upcoming webinar, 'The Keys to Enhancing Safety & Efficiency in Firefighting Operations' on June 30 to learn more. About Technosylva Inc. Technosylva is the leading provider of wildfire and extreme weather modeling, risk mitigation, and operational response software. Technosylva's market-leading solutions, enhanced by AI and machine learning capabilities, provide real-time and predictive insights into developing wildfire and extreme weather risks to support electric utility, insurance, and government agency customers. Founded in 1997, Technosylva has offices in La Jolla, CA, León, Spain, and Calgary, Canada. Learn more at About Globalstar, Inc. Globalstar empowers its customers to connect, transmit, and communicate smarter – easily, quickly, securely, and affordably – offering reliable satellite and terrestrial connectivity services as an international telecom infrastructure provider. The Company's low Earth orbit ("LEO") satellite constellation ensures secure data transmission for connecting and protecting assets, transmitting critical operational data, and saving lives for consumers, businesses, and government agencies across the globe. Globalstar's terrestrial spectrum, Band 53, and its 5G variant, n53, offer carriers, cable companies, and system integrators a versatile, fully licensed channel for private networks with a growing ecosystem to improve customer wireless connectivity, while Globalstar's XCOM RAN product offers significant capacity gains in dense wireless deployments. In addition to SPOT GPS messengers, Globalstar offers next-generation Internet of Things ("IoT") hardware and software products for efficiently tracking and monitoring assets, processing smart data at the edge, and managing analytics with cloud-based telematics solutions to drive safety, productivity, and profitability. For more information, visit
