JERUSALEM — Various countries mobilized to assist Israel as it faced a challenging wildfire on Thursday, which had persisted into a second day. The blaze had disrupted a major thoroughfare between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, causing drivers to abandon their cars in panic.
The fire, which ignited mid-Wednesday in the hills near Jerusalem, was exacerbated by the hot, dry weather and strong winds. The fast-spreading flames burned through pine forests, prompting evacuations from several communities as thick smoke turned the Jerusalem sky gray. The fire also resulted in the cancellation of numerous Independence Day festivities, as security resources were redirected to combat the fire.
Spanning approximately 5,000 acres (20 square kilometers), the fire is deemed the most severe Israel has encountered in a decade, according to Tal Volvovitch, a representative of Israel’s fire and rescue services. Remarkably, despite its intensity, the fire has spared any residential areas from destruction.
Israel’s fire and rescue authorities strongly advised the public to refrain from visiting parks or forests and exercise extreme caution with barbecues. Independence Day in Israel, typically celebrated with outdoor family gatherings, faced disruptions due to the fire threat.
On Wednesday, medical teams attended to at least 12 individuals, mostly for smoke inhalation issues, while another 10 were treated on-site, as reported by Magen David Adom Ambulance services. The fire had also slightly injured about 20 firefighters, Volvovitch noted.
To aid Israel’s firefighting efforts, Italy, Croatia, Spain, France, Ukraine, and Romania dispatched firefighting aircraft, and water-dropping planes were sent from countries like North Macedonia and Cyprus. On Thursday morning, 10 firefighting planes were operational, with an additional eight expected to arrive later in the day.
As the situation improved, evacuation orders for approximately a dozen communities in the Jerusalem hills were lifted on Thursday. Members of three Catholic communities, displaced during the evacuation, were permitted to return, according to Farid Jubran, the spokesperson for the Latin Patriarchate. Unfortunately, their agricultural lands, including vineyards and olive groves, endured significant damage, though historic churches remained intact and there were no injuries.
The main highway connecting Jerusalem to Tel Aviv reopened, following its closure when flames encroached dangerously close, causing drivers to abandon their vehicles in panic. On Thursday, the extent of the fire damage was visible from the highway, with blackened terrain and lingering smoke marking the area. Pink anti-flame retardant dusted the charred landscape, and the smell of fire persisted in the atmosphere.
While wildfires are common in Israel’s summer months, such intense blazes at this time of year are atypical. Many of Israel’s forests are planted rather than naturally occurring, contributing to the unusual fire dynamics.
According to one organization responsible for Israel’s forest management, the fire spread due to a combination of factors, including low rainfall in winter, hot and dry conditions, and shifting severe winds.
Anat Gold, from the Jewish National Fund (KKL), which manages forest plantings and settlements, mentioned that the fire was mostly under control. However, efforts to create fire breaks were hampered by unpredictable winds reigniting the same areas.
Gold emphasized the role of climate change, which has reduced rainfall in the region, contributing to the severity of the blaze. The prolonged period of drought presents a ripe environment for such fires, she remarked.
The current situation stirs memories of the 2010 inferno on Mount Carmel in northern Israel, which raged for four days, caused 44 fatalities, and decimated around 12,000 acres, predominantly forests.