Israel sends team to help battle Ethiopian mountain blaze

Israel on Saturday dispatched a team of firefighters to help squelch a blaze raging in Ethiopia’s Simien Mountain range.

The delegation, which landed in Addis Ababa Sunday morning, consists of 11 firefighters and rescue officials, including an expert in aerial firefighting, according to Israel’s Fire and Rescue Service and the Foreign Ministry.

It is being led by Zion Shenkar, who was born in Ethiopia and was the Israel Defense Force’s first-ever battalion commander from the Ethiopian community.

The Foreign Ministry said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the team be assembled after receiving a request for aid by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed during a conversation Friday.

The Simien Mountain fire has been burning for several days, and is the second major fire to strike the lush highlands in the country’s north in two weeks.

The mountains are near the city of Gondar, home to most of Ethiopia’s remaining Jewish community.

The fire has proved difficult to extinguish because of the rugged terrain, threatening wildlife and nature, according to local reports.

The Simien Mountains National Park, a popular tourist destination, is home to the rare Waliya ibex and Gelada baboon.

Park administrator Abebaw Azanew said the fire was moving quickly and swiftly engulfing grasslands, according to the 7d news website.

On Saturday, regional president Ambachew Mekonnen asked for additional help, saying local crews had been unable to control the fire, according to the Addis Standard online news source.

#SimienMountainsNationalPark#ትኩረትለሰሜንተራሮችብሔራዊፓርክ pic.twitter.com/WSghaxAUDJ

— † ♛ የሰው ማኛ♛ © ®™ (@aHackz) April 11, 2019

France and Kenya have also pledged to send help battling the blaze, according to the news site.

A fire in the same area in late March burned for five days before local crews and volunteers managed to put it out.