2,000 evacuated in La Palma wildfire in Spain’s Canary Islands; official says blaze ‘out of control’

By JOSEPH WILSON
Associated Press

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Authorities say that more than 2,000 people have been evacuated as a wildfire rages “out of control” on La Palma in Spain’s Canary Islands, destroying around a dozen homes. The blaze has affected an area of about 4,500 hectares (11,000 acres) and officials warned residents that the situation could worsen because a heat wave has made the terrain tinder-dry. Canary Islands regional president Fernando Clavijo said Saturday that “the fire has spread very fast” and “the fire is out of control.” He said that some residents didn’t want to abandon their homes. Clavijo appealed for people to be responsible and heed the calls for evacuation.