Mist hampers air efforts to fight fire on Canary Islands

MADRID – A Canary Island official says heavy mist is preventing two badly needed water-carrying planes from being used to extinguish a wildfire affecting mountainous countryside on the island of La Gomera.

Emergency services spokeswoman Carmina Lorenzo said Monday strong winds and high temperatures had pushed the fire to over 3,000 hectares (7,400 acres) on the Spanish island off northwest Africa.

Canary Islands regional government President Paulino Rivero told reporters Gomera’s canyons and ravines “act like genuine chimneys for the fire” and made access by land very difficult.

The blaze has entered a small part of the Garajonay National Park in the island’s centre.

Lorenzo said 600 people evacuated from towns close to the fire were allowed return.

Another blaze on neighbouring La Palma island has burned 1,000 hectares (2,500 acres).