Teams of fire fighters, assisted by five helicopters, have been tackling a major forest fire in the canton of Valais, which broke out early yesterday evening.
The fire is believed to have started above Bitsch/Ried-Mörel in Upper Valais before spreading in the direction of Ried-Mörel-Riederhorn, where houses were evacuated.
Residents in the hamlet of Oberried were told to close doors and windows before leaving their houses for the safety of a nearby town hall.
Flames were fanned by high winds, leading to the fire quickly spreading. It could be seen from miles around. The Ried-Mörel road has been closed until further notice.
Police were first alerted to the fire just before 5:00 p.m. It’s not yet known how it started.
The teams have been grateful that yesterday's strong winds died down overnight to limit the spread, but it is expected that the blaze will continue for multiple days.
Bitsch : incendie de forêt
— Police Valais (@PoliceValais) July 17, 2023
Un important dispositif d’intervention a rapidement été mis en place. Celui-ci lutte encore contre le feu qui se propage rapidement. Les travaux d’extinction se poursuivent.https://t.co/RAp4B3N7hk pic.twitter.com/Qnf3rK3aFk
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