1. Introduction: The Challenge of a Generation
On September 19, 2021, the earth opened up in the Cumbre Vieja area. What began as a geological phenomenon quickly became the most complex volcanic emergency in Spain's recent history. Firefighting and rescue services faced an unprecedented scenario: defending lives and property against the unstoppable force of lava.
2. Technical Work: Beyond Firefighting
Our mission at the volcano was multidisciplinary and adapted to each phase of the eruption:
Critical Evacuation: Immediate coordination for the evacuation of thousands of residents in the first hours.
Drone Monitoring: Use of thermal technology to map the advance of lava flows and predict breakout points.
Infrastructure Protection: "Active defense" operations through preventive irrigation and ash removal from roofs to prevent collapses.
Rescue of Animals and Belongings: Interventions in exclusion zones to recover what the volcano had not yet reached.
3. The Invisible Enemy: Gases
We not only fought against the radiant heat of 1,140°C. The greatest danger for our teams was air quality. Equipped with multi-gas detectors and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), firefighters ensured safety in perimeters where sulfur dioxide ($SO_2$) and $CO_2$ made the air unbreathable.
4. Values: Resilience and Unity
This website is a tribute to colleagues from all over Spain who traveled to the "Isla Bonita" (Beautiful Island). From forest firefighters to urban firefighters and provincial consortia, we worked as a single body.
"We couldn't stop the lava, but we didn't let anyone face it alone."