Seven Injured in Santa Cruz de Tenerife Apartment Fire
Seven people were treated for injuries and smoke inhalation following a residential fire in Santa Cruz de Tenerife that required a major emergency response and high-risk rescues.
Emergency services were tested in Santa Cruz de Tenerife this Sunday after a fire broke out at a home on Ramón Pérez de Ayala Street. The incident, which required a major coordinated response, left seven people affected and highlighted the significant challenges of fighting fires in dense, high-rise urban areas.
The operation began shortly after 9:00 a.m., with the Tenerife Fire Consortium carrying out high-risk rescues. Firefighters saved three people from the apartment where the fire started and evacuated a resident with limited mobility from a higher floor. To manage the blaze, crews deployed two heavy pumpers, an aerial ladder truck, and a command unit, while local police evacuated the rest of the building as a precaution.
Medical teams from the Canary Islands Emergency Service (SUC) treated those affected. A 47-year-old man suffering from moderate burns and smoke inhalation, and an 85-year-old woman suffering from mild smoke inhalation, were taken to the Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria University Hospital. Another woman was transported to the Los Gladiolos Health Center for smoke inhalation, while others received medical care at the scene.
Once the fire was extinguished, firefighters focused on ventilation and safety checks. Thanks to the quick collaboration between the National Police, Local Police, and Civil Protection, the fire was contained and the situation was stabilized quickly. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining up-to-date safety plans in residential buildings, particularly to ensure the protection of residents with special mobility needs.