As Spain’s heat waves continue, the latest victim of wildfires is the beautiful island of Tenerife in the Canary Islands. After the inferno broke out, at least five villages have been ordered to evacuate for safety. As the flames are pretty much out of control, what should you do if you have already booked a vacation in Tenerife?

Should you cancel your vacation in Tenerife?

Europe is in the grasp of an almost continuous heatwave, which is scorching many areas of the continent. First, wildfires happened in Sicily, Greece and Portugal, but this time it’s the Canary Island of Tenerife, a popular vacation spot in Spain.

According to authorities, the blaze is “out of control” since it started on Tuesday night. So far, it has already devastated more than 12,000 acres and at least five villages were evacuated.

What started the fire?

The blaze started on Tuesday night in a forested area at the foot of the Mount Teide volcano. From there, the flames have torn through woodland in the Arafo and Candelaria regions. As there has been no rain, the land and the trees in the national park were dry, making the area susceptible to fires after weeks of blazing heatwaves.

The villages that have been evacuated include Ajafoña, Arrate, Chivisaya, Las Lagunetas and Media Montaña, Ajafoña and Las Lagunetas. Meanwhile, the blaze is currently concentrated in the northeast of Tenerife, but as it is “out of control,” there are fears that secondary fires could spread to popular tourist locations, like Puerto de la Cruz and Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

Are airlines still flying to Tenerife?

As reported by the BBC, Tenerife’s South and North airports continue operating as normal. So far, there are no reports of canceled or delayed flights, but obviously, this could change. While the planes are still flying in, and you can probably still fly to the island, officials recommend staying away. Canary Islands President Fernando Clavijo has said, “The fire is out of control, the outlook is not positive.”

Moreover, Rosa Davila, President of Tenerife Council, says, “The blaze has huge potential,” especially with the strong winds forecast for the coming days. It was confirmed on Saturday that the wildfires are still out of control.

Will you get a refund if you cancel?

If you have booked a vacation in Tenerife and want to cancel, in many cases you will not receive a refund. However, you should contact your travel provider, as some airlines and travel companies are being more flexible due to the extreme circumstances of the European heatwaves.

Spain and its heatwaves

Ironically, the Canary Islands are set apart from mainland Spain, off the coast of northwestern Africa. However, Spain and the Canary Islands have been experiencing record-breaking temperatures in July and August with what feels like never-ending heatwaves.

Currently, the country is going through its third heatwave of the summer, with a fourth on the way, with temperatures often soaring above 40°C (104°F). Some inland locations have reached highs of 44°C (111°F) in the last week.

The best thing to do, if you have planned a vacation in Tenerife, is to contact your travel provider for assistance. If you have been thinking of traveling to the Canary Islands, keep an eye on the headlines and avoid making a booking if the wildfires continue.