Forest fires in Israel. The mobilized EU sends a dozen planes on the spot (maj5)
(B2) Israel's call for international aid, in the face of the forest fires ravaging Mount Calmel (near Haifa), was heard in Brussels. The European Union's "civil protection" unit was thus activated. " Israel can count on the immediate support of Europe. The Monitoring and Information Center (MIC) is responsible for coordinating European assistance during these next few hours and days which will be crucial commented the European Commissioner for Crisis Response, Kristalina Georgieva.
The MIC (or European Union Information and Observation Center), which is on call for civil protection, was contacted on the night of December 2 by the Israeli authorities, who drew up a list of equipment and necessary products such as extinguishing or fire retardant materials.
The 31 States (*) which participate in the European Civil Protection Mechanism quickly offered the required equipment, specifies the European Commission. And five countries (Greece, Spain, France, Cyprus, Croatia) have also offered to send planes. The first on the spot should be the Greeks (geographical proximity helping). 4 Greek planes were to arrive in the area in the morning, as well as a Cypriot plane (the only plane on the island!). A team of 92 Bulgarian firefighters flew to Israel (some of whom have already fought in Russia during the last fires). On the French side, 2 Canadair and 1 Dash 8 from the Marignane civil protection base are mobilized.
It should be noted that other countries also participate in this aid: Russia, Egypt and Jordan, in particular.
(*) The Mechanism brings together the 27 + Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Croatia.
(updated Friday, Dec. 3, 20 p.m.) Netherlands decided to send 1 Chinook helicopter and 3 Coogar helicopters, from the NL Royal Air Force, each equipped with a "Bambi" water reserve device (2500 liters for the Cougar, 10.000 liters for the Chinook) . They will leave tomorrow (Saturday) the Ministry of Defense has just announced. The costs will be shared between the two ministries (Defense and Foreign Affairs), the first providing the equipment and the second transport.
(updated Sat 11am) According to the Israeli Interior Ministry, Friday were operational: 8 planes, 3 helicopters, 3 fire trucks and 150 firefighters arrived from several countries. Greece (4 planes), Cyprus (1 plane and 1 helicopter), Turkey (2 planes), Bulgaria (92 firefighters), the United Kingdom (2 helicopters) and Russia. But during the night from Friday to Saturday, only firefighters on the ground were in action. The weekend will be decisive. And the authorities are counting in particular on the extinguishing power of the Russian plane, which arrived on Friday (read below).
• The UK quickly sent 2 Griffin Search and Rescue helicopters, equipped with a "Bambi" fire-fighting device, detached from its base at Akrotiri in Cyprus.
• L'Italy sent 100 tons of retardant products by plane.
• The Russia sent two planes to the scene - an Ilyushin-76, capable of dropping 42 tons of water (which arrived Friday evening in Haifa) and a canadair Be-200 - as well as a heavy Mi-26 helicopter that can drop 15 tons of water - specifies the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations, relayed by our colleagues from Ria Novosti.
• The Turkey sent 2 water bombers. A gesture that takes on a very political dimension, given the latest tensions between the two states, particularly after the Gaza flotilla affair (1). This aid was immediately accepted by the Israeli government.
• The United States sent 45 tons of retardant products and various equipment, and a team of experts, chartered by US Aid on board a private plane. The New York district firefighters send a firefighting plane.
On the Israeli side, at least 400 firefighters and 100 trucks are deployed.
A heavy toll from the security forces
The latest report speaks of 42 dead. Fire and security forces are paying a heavy price. We already deplore two serious injuries among the firefighters. A bus was surrounded by flames. And 36 trainee prison guards who had been specially mobilized to help with the evacuation of Damon's prison. Two police officers, including the head of police operations for the North East region, as well as a young 16-year-old volunteer firefighter, also died in the attempt to rescue the passengers of the bus. Another firefighter, Uri Smnedyeve, died.
The fire is not under control
The fires are not yet under control admit the authorities, according to the national daily Haaretz. On Saturday morning, the fire approached the town of Usfiya, a Druze town in the north. And several public buildings in Haifa were threatened, such as the university.
According to the 102, the Israeli fire service, the Greek planes were, on Saturday morning, engaged on Nir Etzion where a violent fire is taking place. A helicopter in Beit Oren, three light planes. While at Ein Hod, it is the forces on the ground that act. A helicopter and a light aircraft in Isfiya for two households.
The first elements of the investigation speak of "negligence". But the fact that the fire started in different places is quite suspicious. The Ministry of the Interior is also implicated for not having provided sufficient resources to deal with such a disaster.
(update 3 Sat 17pm / 24h) “The battle of fire will be fought through the air”
13 planes and helicopters are already engaged on the fires, 8 others are to follow. " The battle of fire will be through the air said Prime Minister Netanyahu.
The French Dash arrived on Saturday afternoon. As well as the second Russian plane carrying experts from the Ministry of Emergency Situations, including Deputy Minister V. Platt.
Other planes or helicopters are expected: from France (4 Canadairs), from Switzerland (3 Cougar helicopters), from the Netherlands (4 helicopters, see above), from Romania (1 helicopter from the Ministry of the Interior) , Russia and Azerbaijan.
The United States will send 3 C-130 aircraft equipped with fire protection (with the MAFFS system - Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System) from the US Air Force Reserve and the National Guard, announced US Aid. In addition, 2 other C-130s leave from the Ramstein base in Germany to transport 20 additional tons of retardant products. A Boeing 747 from the private company Evergreen, specially equipped and capable of dropping 75.000 tons of water, has been chartered and should arrive from the United States in the coming days.
(update Sat 24h) The contribution of the Israeli army
The Israeli army has committed significant resources: helicopters (including 4 in charge of Search and rescue for the bus accident), dozens of doctors and nurses, and two army battalions to help put out the fire and make water tanks. 200 reserve firefighters from Home Front Command have been called up. Equipment such as four Caterpillar D9 armored bulldozers and heavy equipment as well as several hundred soldiers in training were also committed. Its air base in Haifa (Ramat David) serves as a rallying point for international aid arriving by air.
The fire also disrupts the army bases: 3 of them had to be evacuated as a preventive measure. And conscription is suspended for young people in the Mount Carmel region.
(updated Sun 16pm) The fire is under control
The fire is under control said the authorities who considered that it was no longer necessary to have recourse to international assistance. 11 Israeli aircraft (helicopters and light aircraft) are engaged in the fires and 24 foreign aircraft, the majority of which come from the European Union. The latest arrivals were the 4 Spanish Canadair planes and 3 Swiss Cougar helicopters. They made more than 400 rotations according to General Ido Nechushtan, who coordinates international aid for the Israeli air force. At the latest assessment: 12,300 acres of forest and 5 million trees went up in smoke, 74 buildings were completely destroyed by the flames and 173 partially in the Kibbutz of Beit Oren, in Ein Hod, and Yamon-Ord.
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