Wildfire in Upper Valais Not Yet Under Control
Published: Tuesday, Jul 18th 2023, 00:40
Mise à jour le : Vendredi, 13 octobre 2023, 14:12
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The forest fire in the Upper Valais is still not under control according to the Cantonal Police of Valais. The flames are still spreading and the firefighting efforts are ongoing, the Cantonal Police reported on Twitter in the night of Tuesday. The population of the municipalities of Ried-Mörel and Oberried, as well as the hamlets of Flesche and Ober-Eichen, have been evacuated. The fire broke out in the afternoon above Bitsch/Ried-Mörel for unknown reasons. The population of Oberried was completely evacuated by 10 pm, while the evacuation of Bitsch-Mörel took longer, as authorities explained in Bitsch in front of the media. The road Ried-Mörel has been closed until further notice. Further settlements below the large area of the forest fire have been partially evacuated due to the danger of rockfall. The authorities could not provide information on the number of evacuated people. In addition to the four helicopters of Air Zermatt and Air Glaciers that have been in use for hours, an army helicopter has been available since Monday evening, as the army itself announced. It is a Super Puma. A second army helicopter will be added on Tuesday. During the night of Tuesday, flights with one two-engine helicopter of Air Zermatt and Air Glaciers will be continued, as stated in a statement from Air Zermatt on Monday evening. In addition to the fire brigades of the surrounding municipalities (Naters, Brig, Riederalp, Aletsch and Brumbach), the police, civil protection and rescue forces were also mobilised. On Monday evening, according to official figures, 150 firefighters, 25 police officers and 20 civil protection personnel were in action. The first fire alarm was received by the police shortly before 5 pm. The exact cause and extent of the fire were not yet known in the evening. The fire was visible from afar. According to the police, the flames spread rapidly after the outbreak of the fire, also because a strong wind was blowing in the Rhone Valley.
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