400 families evacuated as fire threatens Tzur Hadassah near Jerusalem

Police and Fire and Rescue Services on Friday evacuated some 400 homes in Tzur Hadassah near Jerusalem as a large brush fire threatened the community.

Residents living in the first line of homes in the Rehasim and Karkom neighborhoods were evacuated and taken to a sports hall in the town that was not threatened.

Later Friday, officials announced that the blaze was under control and reopened the nearby Route 375 that had been blocked to traffic. Residents were allowed back to their homes.

Thirty-five firefighting teams from across the country and 10 firefighting aircraft worked to extinguish the blaze, firefighters said, amid concern that forecasted strong winds could spread the fire further.

Firefighters try to extinguish a forest fire in the woods of Tzur Hadassah, outside of Jerusalem, on June 4, 2021. (Nati Shohat/FLASH90)

A thick pall of smoke filled the air above Tzur Hadassah and spread to neighboring communities.

There was no immediate comment from authorities as to the cause of the fire.

There were no reports of injuries as a result of the blaze.