Latest news with #FireandRescueAuthority
The National
02-05-2025
- Climate
- The National
Israel fires largely contained after mass evacuations
Wildfires that spread across large parts of Israel have been mostly contained, the country's Fire and Rescue Authority said on Friday. The blazes broke out on Wednesday near the main Jerusalem-Tel Aviv motorway, prompting police to close roads and evacuate thousands of residents. More than 160 firefighting ground crews and 12 aircraft were working to contain the wildfires, which were described as the country's worst in a decade. Several major roads have now reopened after firefighting teams managed to get many of the bushfires under control. Hot and dry conditions with strong winds had posed a serious challenge for firefighters, authorities said. Officials warned the fires could flare up again and firefighting teams are still tackling lingering hotspots. At least 12 people have been treated for smoke inhalation, Israel's ambulance service said, but no deaths were reported. Israeli broadcaster Kan said 17 firefighters were injured as they attempted to contain the flames. "I've been in the service for 24 years and I've been through many fires," said Shlomi Harush, a deputy commander of Ayalon fire station. "There's no doubt that this is one of the toughest fires I've seen." Crews worked through the night, enabling the reopening of main roads, including the Jerusalem- Tel Aviv route, police said. "All routes have been reopened to traffic," they said in a statement. Residents of the Mavo Horon settlement have been allowed to return to their homes, police added. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had declared a national emergency in response to the fires and hundreds of people fled their homes. An evacuation order for 12 towns near Jerusalem has now been lifted. Countries including France, Italy and Spain had sent aircraft to assist in the emergency. Israeli President Isaac Herzog said on Thursday the fires were 'part of the climate change crisis, which must not be ignored'. 'It requires us to prepare for serious and significant challenges and to make decisions – including appropriate legislation,' said Mr Herzog, thanking firefighters for 'risking their lives … to save lives and contain the great fire'. Authorities have banned people from visiting parks and forests, and from lighting fires in public places. The cause of the fires has yet to be determined. Mr Netanyahu blamed it on arson and said 18 people had been arrested in connection to the wildfires.
Saudi Gazette
02-05-2025
- Climate
- Saudi Gazette
Israel fires largely controlled after mass evacuations
TEL AVIV — Fires that have ravaged large parts of central Israel since Wednesday have largely been extinguished, the country's Fire and Rescue Authority says. More than 150 teams have been battling the blaze, which has scorched around 20 sq km (7.7 sq miles) of land in the Latrun area — between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Israel's ambulance service said at least 12 people had been treated for smoke inhalation, but no fatalities have been reported. Seventeen firefighters were injured, according to Israeli broadcaster Kan. Authorities said hot and dry conditions, with strong winds, made controlling the fires more challenging, and a senior official warned they could flare up again. "I've been in the service for 24 years, and I've been through many fires," said Shlomi Harush, a deputy commander of Ayalon fire station. "There's no doubt that this is one of the toughest fires I've seen." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had declared a national emergency in response to the fires, and hundreds of people evacuated their homes, but an evacuation order for 12 towns near Jerusalem has now been including France, Italy and Spain had dispatched aircraft to assist in the fires led to the cancellation of most official events celebrating Israel's Independence Day on Thursday, and there was a nationwide ban on lighting fires for barbecues — a traditional part of the day.A major highway linking Jerusalem and Tel Aviv has now reopened. Videos posted online earlier this week showed people abandoning their cars as flames and smoke whipped across the authorities have provided conflicting accounts for the cause of the President Isaac Herzog said the fires were "part of the climate crisis, which must not be ignored".Netanyahu blamed the fires on arsonists and said that 18 people had been arrested, but Israeli police later said that only three suspects were in detention, and they were not linked to the wildfires. — BBC
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Israel fires largely controlled after mass evacuations
Fires that have ravaged large parts of central Israel since Wednesday have largely been extinguished, the country's Fire and Rescue Authority says. More than 150 teams have been battling the blaze, which has scorched around 20 sq km (7.7 sq miles) of land in the Latrun area - between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Israel's ambulance service said at least 12 people had been treated for smoke inhalation, but no fatalities have been reported. Seventeen firefighters were injured, according to Israeli broadcaster Kan. Authorities said hot and dry conditions, with strong winds, made controlling the fires more challenging, and a senior official warned they could flare up again. "I've been in the service for 24 years, and I've been through many fires," said Shlomi Harush, a deputy commander of Ayalon fire station. "There's no doubt that this is one of the toughest fires I've seen." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had declared a national emergency in response to the fires, and hundreds of people evacuated their homes, but an evacuation order for 12 towns near Jerusalem has now been lifted. Countries including France, Italy and Spain had dispatched aircraft to assist in the emergency. The fires led to the cancellation of most official events celebrating Israel's Independence Day on Thursday, and there was a nationwide ban on lighting fires for barbecues - a traditional part of the day. A major highway linking Jerusalem and Tel Aviv has now reopened. Videos posted online earlier this week showed people abandoning their cars as flames and smoke whipped across the road. Israeli authorities have provided conflicting accounts for the cause of the fire. Israeli President Isaac Herzog said the fires were "part of the climate crisis, which must not be ignored". Netanyahu blamed the fires on arsonists and said that 18 people had been arrested, but Israeli police later said that only three suspects were in detention, and they were not linked to the wildfires.
BBC News
02-05-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Israel fires: Blaze near Jerusalem largely controlled
Fires that have ravaged large parts of central Israel since Wednesday have largely been extinguished, the country's Fire and Rescue Authority than 150 teams have been battling the blaze, which has scorched around 20 sq km (7.7 sq miles) of land in the Latrun area - between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Israel's ambulance service said at least 12 people had been treated for smoke inhalation, but no fatalities have been reported. Seventeen firefighters were injured, according to Israeli broadcaster Kan. Authorities said hot and dry conditions, with strong winds, made controlling the fires more challenging, and a senior official warned they could flare up again. "I've been in the service for 24 years, and I've been through many fires," said Shlomi Harush, a deputy commander of Ayalon fire station. "There's no doubt that this is one of the toughest fires I've seen."Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had declared a national emergency in response to the fires, and hundreds of people evacuated their homes, but an evacuation order for 12 towns near Jerusalem has now been including France, Italy and Spain had dispatched aircraft to assist in the fires led to the cancellation of most official events celebrating Israel's Independence Day on Thursday, and there was a nationwide ban on lighting fires for barbecues - a traditional part of the day.A major highway linking Jerusalem and Tel Aviv has now reopened. Videos posted online earlier this week showed people abandoning their cars as flames and smoke whipped across the authorities have provided conflicting accounts for the cause of the fire. Israeli president Isaac Herzog said the fires were "part of the climate crisis, which must not be ignored". Netanyahu blamed the fires on arsonists and said that 18 people had been arrested, but Israeli police later said that only three suspects were in detention, and they were not linked to the wildfires.
Observer
01-05-2025
- Climate
- Observer
Jerusalem wildfires rage for second day, but main highway reopens
Israeli firefighters were battling wildfires around Jerusalem for a second day on Thursday. Crews are still working at six major fire sites, the Fire and Rescue Authority said, adding that at least 17 firefighters have been injured and required medical treatment. Large areas of land near Jerusalem have burned, charring fields and forests around the city. Firefighting planes from Cyprus, Italy and Croatia have been dispatched to assist the efforts. Conditions have improved in some areas, allowing roads previously closed due to thick smoke - including the main highway between TelAviv and Jerusalem - to reopen. Train services to and from Jerusalem have resumed, according to the Israeli railway company, and some residents of affected areas have been allowed to return to their homes. The Ynet news site reported that over 100 cars abandoned during the chaos on Wednesday have been towed away. Videos showed people fleeing from their cars on the road, leaving their vehicles behind. The cause of the fires remains unclear. Jerusalem's district fire department commander Shmulik Friedman called the set of fires"perhaps the largest" in the country's history. After a heatwave, temperatures have dropped, but strong winds are expected later Thursday, raising fears of renewed flare-ups,according to the Israeli weather service. Israel has experienced deadly wildfires in the past, including a 2010 blaze in the northern Carmel mountain range that killed more than 40 people. Fires are common in forests around Jerusalem.
