A fire that erupted in the Jerusalem corridor forest on Tuesday morning, produced acrid smoke conditions, which resulted in a danger to motorists. As a result, police closed the Begin Highway southbound (near Route 9 to the entrance to the city), also providing a clear area for firefighters arriving to battle the blaze. The residents of a number of buildings in proximity to the fire were also evacuated from their homes.

Jerusalem fire officer, Tefsar-Mishne (Colonel) Roni Soninu explained “the fire began in the wadi near Lifta at about 10:00AM, in proximity to the Begin Highway. We managed to prevent the fire from spreading towards important infrastructure facilities, dense transport routes and the Emek HaArazim northwest of the fire.

“With the assistance of the police, police helicopters and the Jerusalem police who assisted in directing traffic and evacuating civilians who were in the area of the fire, the firefighters gained control of the flames that advanced rapidly in the wadi channel, under the protection of the strong winds, thus preventing severe damage to the population and its property”.

שריפה הוערת באיזור הליפתא בירושלים סמוך לכביש בגין. הרקע טרם ברור.

צילום: דוברות כב”ה ירושלים pic.twitter.com/4a9YWZX1X5

— הקול היהודי (@hakolhayehudi) June 4, 2019

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem/Photo Credit: Jerusalem Fire & Rescue Spokesman Udi Gal via Media Resource Group)