Jerusalem (EFE) .- The macroincendio declared Wednesday in the mountains near Jerusalem, which forced the evacuation of 8,000 people and caused injuries to 40 civilians and firefighters, “has been declared under control,” according to the Israeli fire Service in a statement on Thursday.
“After an intense work of all forces in the field, the great fire that broke out in the hills of Jerusalem was declared under control,” explains the note, adding that they will now begin to gradually release the forces of the area.
The Fire Department adds that “a thorough investigation of the incident will be carried out, as required for events of this type.”
At least 2,000 hectares burned in the fire
In the note, Israeli firefighters express their thanks to all the forces that operated during the last 24 hours in their extinction and want a “happy and safe independence day”, which is celebrated since Wednesday in the country and many of whose acts were suspended.
The macroincendium, which has left at least 2,000 hectares burned -1,300 of them of forest -originated this Wednesday around 10 am (7.00 GMT) in the area of Mateh Yehuda, among the small towns of Mesilat Zion and Neve Shalom, about 30 kilometers west of Jerusalem, according to police information.
-Neve Shalom was the first evacuated town, on an extreme weather day with heat, environmental dryness and orange alert by strong wind with gusts between 90 and 100 kilometers per hour that blow from west to east (towards Jerusalem). The fire was about 14 kilometers from the holy city.
Those evacuated by the fire return to their homes
The reasons why it occurred are still unknown and, although the police reported in the afternoon of a detainee “with a lighter” who tried to turn on a fire in the south of Jerusalem, it has not been clarified if it has to do with the fires that occurred to tens of kilometers from there.
Because of the flames, the highway that joins Jerusalem with Tel Aviv (Route 1) was blocked, in which dozens of people had to leave their vehicles and flee.
This Thursday morning, the police announced the reopening of the highway and other roads and the evacuees were able to return to their homes, which according to firefighters were not affected.
Israel requested international help to extinguish fires and five countries – Spain, France, Romania, Croatia, Italy and Ukraine – they said they would send planes for it. Finally, a chipre helicopter arrived in Israel, firefighters reported.
