Fire in the Kfar Etzion area: a military base was evacuated, the fire was brought under control

A fire broke out today (Friday) in Kfar Etzion in the Gush Etzion area. Over twenty firefighting teams, with the help of six planes from the “Elad” squadron, were called to the scene, and are working to put out the fire that also spread to the Etzion helicopter gunship located in the area. The forces also evacuated campers from a youth movement building.

The teams are working inside the base, as the fire continues to spread also in the agricultural areas in the area. Towards the evening, the fire department announced that the fire had been brought under control.

Fire crews at a fire in Kfar Etzion (Photo: Kabrot Vahtsela)

An IDF spokesman: “In the last few hours, a fire broke out at the Etzion military base located in Gush Etzion.
The firefighters of the Yosh district from the fire and rescue system are working together with the IDF forces and the Israel Police to put out the fire. Most of the base’s employees were evacuated from the area, there are no casualties and there is no damage to the operational activity.”

“This is a mixed forest fire that started inside Kibbutz Kfar Etzion and spread under the auspices of the strong winds,” said Lieutenant Tafsar at noon Tamir Erez, Commander of the Yehuda Regional Station. “The fire fighters are now working on several fronts, one of them towards a nearby military base and the rest around the kibbutz. During the fire there was concern about a building with a youth movement, and the campers were evacuated from the scene. We are now working in cooperation with the policemen of the Etzion station, Hetmar Etzion as well as the security coordinators of The Fire Suppression Council”.