Fire consumes 66 percent of Ein Gedi nature reserve
Two thirds of the Ein Gedi nature reserve went up in flames in fire that raged in the area Tuesday. According to residents of Kibbutz Ein Gedi, the fire is one of the largest they can remember. [From Haaretz, May 31, 2005]
By
Nir Hassan
Two thirds of the Ein Gedi nature reserve went up in flames in fire that raged in the area Tuesday. According to residents of Kibbutz Ein Gedi, the fire is one of the largest they can remember.
While the area closest to the Dead Sea was not harmed, kibbutz members reported that a cloud of smoke covered the entire kibbutz.
Gilad Gabai, deputy manager of the southern region's Nature and National Parks Authority, said that the area affected is crucial to plant and animal life in the region. He added that it will take many years until the damage will be repaired. Tourists at the site were evacuated as the fire rapidly spread along Nahal David, a dry riverbed in the reserve.
Local residents joined with firefighters on the ground, as planes tried unsuccessfully to douse the flames from the air. Firefighters managed to bring the massive blaze under control during the evening hours.
The fire is believed to have been caused by the carelessness of tourists, which is to blame to previous fires in the area.
Also Tuesday, a fire raged in the Judea nature reserve in the Golan Heights. Planes were also called to that location.
A section of Route 87 was closed to traffic in both directions, although residential communities in the area did not appear to be in any danger.
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