Latest news with #TalVolvovitch
Arab News
01-05-2025
- Climate
- Arab News
Several countries send firefighting planes to Israel to help tackle major wildfire
JERUSALEM: Several countries were sending firefighting aircraft to Israel on Thursday as crews battled for a second day to extinguish a wildfire that had shut down a major highway linking Tel Aviv and Jerusalem and sent drivers scrambling from their cars. The fire broke out around midday on Wednesday, fueled by hot, dry conditions and fanned by strong winds that quickly whipped up the flames, burning through a pine forest. Several communities were evacuated as a precaution as the smoke turned the skies over Jerusalem gray. The fire has burned about 20 sq. km and is the most significant fire Israel has had in the past decade, according to Tal Volvovitch, a spokesperson for Israel's fire and rescue authority. She said the fire has 'miraculously' not damaged any homes. Israel's fire and rescue authority warned the public to stay away from parks or forests, and to be exceptionally careful while lighting barbecues. Thursday is Israel's Independence Day, which is typically marked with large family cookouts in parks and forests. At least 12 people were treated in hospitals on Wednesday, mainly due to smoke inhalation, while another 10 people were treated in the field, Magen David Adom Ambulance services said. Italy, Croatia, Spain, France, Ukraine, and Romania were sending planes to help battle the flames, while several other countries, including North Macedonia and Cyprus, were also sending water-dropping aircraft. Israeli authorities said 10 firefighting planes were operating on Thursday morning, with another eight aircraft to arrive during the day. Israel's fire and rescue authority lifted the evacuation order on approximately a dozen towns in the Jerusalem hills on Thursday. Three Catholic religious communities that were forced to evacuate from their properties on Wednesday could also return on Thursday, said Farid Jubran, the spokesperson for the Latin Patriarchate. He said their agricultural lands, including vineyards and olive trees, suffered heavy damage, and some buildings were damaged. But there were no injuries, and historic churches were not affected. The main highway linking Jerusalem to Tel Aviv was opened again on Thursday, a day after the flames had encroached on the road, forcing drivers to abandon their cars and flee in terror. On Thursday morning, broad swathes of burned areas were visible from the highway, while pink anti-flame retardant dusted the top of burned trees and bushes. Smoke and the smell of fire hung heavy in the air. In 2010, a massive forest fire burned for four days on northern Israel's Mount Carmel, claiming 44 lives and destroying around 12,000 acres, much of it woodland.
Time of India
01-05-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
Several countries sending firefighting planes to Israel to help tackle major wildfire
JERUSALEM: Several countries were sending firefighting aircraft to Israel on Thursday as crews battled for a second day to extinguish a wildfire that had shut down a major highway linking Tel Aviv and and sent drivers scrambling from their cars. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The fire broke out around midday in the hills outside Jerusalem on Wednesday, fuelled by hot, dry conditions and fanned by strong winds that quickly whipped up the flames burning through pine forests. Several communities were evacuated as a precaution as the smoke turned the skies over Jerusalem gray. Many of the country's independence day celebrations were cancelled as security forces were diverted towards the fire. The fire has burned about 20 square kilometres and is the most significant fire Israel has seen in the past decade, according to Tal Volvovitch, a spokesperson for Israel's fire and rescue authority. She said the fire has "miraculously" not damaged any homes. Israel's fire and rescue authority warned the public to stay away from parks or forests, and to be exceptionally careful while lighting barbecues. Thursday is Israel's Independence Day, which is typically marked with large family cookouts in parks and forests. At least 12 people were treated in hospitals on Wednesday, mainly due to smoke inhalation, while another 10 people were treated in the field, Magen David Adom Ambulance services said. Twenty firefighters have been lightly injured, Volvovitch said. Italy, Croatia, Spain, France, Ukraine, and Romania were sending planes to help battle the flames, while several other countries, including North Macedonia and Cyprus, were also sending water-dropping aircrafts. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Israeli authorities said 10 firefighting planes were operating on Thursday morning, with another eight aircraft to arrive during the course of the day. Israel's fire and rescue authority lifted the evacuation order on approximately a dozen towns in the Jerusalem hills on Thursday. Three Catholic religious communities who were forced to evacuate from their properties on Wednesday were also able to return on Thursday, said Farid Jubran, the spokesperson for the Latin Patriarchate. He said their agricultural lands, including vineyards and olive trees, suffered heavy damage, and some of the buildings were damaged. But there were no injuries, and historic churches were not affected. The main highway linking Jerusalem to Tel Aviv reopened on Thursday, a day after the flames had encroached on the road, forcing drivers to abandon their cars and flee in terror. On Thursday morning, broad swathes of burned areas were visible from the highway, while pink anti-flame retardant dusted the top of burned trees and bushes. Smoke and the smell of fire hung heavy in the air. Israel often sees fires in the summertime, but such strong fires this early in the year are unusual. Many of Israel's forests are planted rather than natural. One of the organisations that manages Israel's' forests said that the fires had perfect conditions to spread: a winter with little rain, hot and dry weather, and exceptionally strong winds that are shifting direction constantly. Anat Gold, the director of Israel's central region for the Jewish National Fund, known by its Hebrew acronym KKL, which manages forests, plants trees, and promotes settlement in the Holy Land, said the fire was mostly contained. But she added that workers were struggling to plow buffer zones and fire breaks as the same spots ignited repeatedly in the quickly changing winds. Gold said climate change, which has resulted in decreased rainfall in the region, contributed to the fire's ferocity. "Of course when there's a series of drought years, it's a fertile ground for fires," she said. In 2010, a massive forest fire burned for four days on northern Israel's Mount Carmel, claiming 44 lives and destroying around 12,000 acres, much of it woodland.
New York Times
01-05-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
Israel Scrambles to Extinguish Wildfires Near Jerusalem for 2nd Day
Firefighters battled wildfires on the outskirts of Jerusalem for a second consecutive day, hoping to extinguish some of the worst blazes in the country in recent years before an expected uptick in winds later on Thursday. The authorities reopened the main highway between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem and allowed evacuees to return to their homes in Israel and the Israeli-occupied West Bank after the fires interrupted celebrations to mark Independence Day. But firefighters were racing to take full control of the blazes before winds were forecast to pick up, said Tal Volvovitch, a spokeswoman for Israel's fire and rescue service. 'We're doing everything we can to finish in the coming hours because the wind gusts can bring us back to where we started,' she said by telephone. The exact cause of the fires was unclear, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel said that 18 people had been detained on suspicion of arson, including one who he said was caught in the act. On Wednesday, Mr. Netanyahu said strong winds, dryness, and open areas with shrubbery had created a 'deadly combination' that fueled the fires. On Thursday, the Israeli police arrested a 19-year-old man from a Palestinian neighborhood in East Jerusalem after they said he wrote on social media in support of the wildfires. Firefighting planes from Croatia, Italy, and Cyprus were scheduled to arrive on Thursday afternoon to help the Israeli effort, Ms. Volovitch said. The Palestinian Authority, which administers parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, has also offered to help, according to Hussein al-Sheikh, a senior Palestinian official. But Ms. Volovitch suggested they would not be joining the firefighting efforts. In 2021, Palestinian firefighters joined Israeli efforts to deal with a similar wildfire near Jerusalem. The current Israeli government has frequently criticized the Palestinian Authority, even though they cooperate closely on security in the West Bank. Israel's fire and rescue service issued an order banning the lighting of fires in open spaces until May 7, but it said Israelis could hold barbecues in designated areas. Many Israelis flock annually to parks and beaches to hold barbecues on Independence Day, a holiday to commemorate the founding of the country.
The Irish Sun
01-05-2025
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
Israel facing ‘national emergency' as massive wildfires burn towards Jerusalem with 18 suspects arrested over arson
ISRAEL is facing a "national emergency" as rapidly spreading wildfires burn towards Jerusalem. Cops have arrested 18 suspects on suspicion of arson following the monster inferno. 3 Israel is facing a "national emergency" as rapidly spreading wildfires burn towards Jerusalem 3 The fires are the worst Israel has faced in years Credit: EPA 3 Firefighters work at the scene Credit: Getty Shocking footage shows thick black smoke above highways in Jerusalem as firefighters race to control the blaze. Horrified drivers were forced to abandon their cars and flee in terror. The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu , warned that the fires could reach the city and declared a "national emergency". At least 12 people were treated in hospitals on Wednesday, mainly due to smoke inhalation, while another 10 people were treated in the field, according to Israeli emergency services. The fire broke out around midday on Wednesday, fueled by hot, dry conditions and fanned by strong winds that quickly whipped up the flames burning through a pine forest. Several communities were evacuated as a precaution as the smoke turned the skies over Jerusalem gray. The fire has burned about 5,000 acres and is the most significant fire Israel has had in the past decade, according to a spokesperson for Israels fire and rescue authority Tal Volvovitch. Volvovitch said the fire has miraculously not damaged any homes. Most read in The Sun The road was opened again on Thursday. More to follow... For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at
The Hill
01-05-2025
- Climate
- The Hill
Several countries sending firefighting planes to Israel to help tackle major wildfire
JERUSALEM (AP) — Several countries were sending firefighting aircraft to Israel on Thursday as crews battled for a second day to extinguish a wildfire that had shut down a major highway linking Tel Aviv and Jerusalem and sent drivers scrambling from their cars. The fire broke out around midday on Wednesday, fueled by hot, dry conditions and fanned by strong winds that quickly whipped up the flames burning through a pine forest. Several communities were evacuated as a precaution as the smoke turned the skies over Jerusalem gray. The fire has burned about 5,000 acres (20 square kilometers) and is the most significant fire Israel has had in the past decade, according to Tal Volvovitch, a spokesperson for Israel's fire and rescue authority. She said the fire has 'miraculously' not damaged any homes. Israel's fire and rescue authority warned the public to stay away from parks or forests, and to be exceptionally careful while lighting barbecues. Thursday is Israel's Independence Day, which is typically marked with large family cookouts in parks and forests. At least 12 people were treated in hospitals on Wednesday, mainly due to smoke inhalation, while another 10 people were treated in the field, Magen David Adom Ambulance services said. Italy, Croatia, Spain, France, Ukraine, and Romania were sending planes to help battle the flames, while several other countries, including North Macedonia and Cyprus, were also sending water-dropping aircraft. Israeli authorities said 10 firefighting planes were operating on Thursday morning, with another eight aircraft to arrive during the course of the day. Israel's fire and rescue authority lifted the evacuation order on approximately a dozen towns in the Jerusalem hills on Thursday. Three Catholic religious communities who were forced to evacuate from their properties on Wednesday were also able to return on Thursday, said Farid Jubran, the spokesperson for the Latin Patriarchate. He said their agricultural lands, including vineyards and olive trees, suffered heavy damage, and some of the buildings were damaged. But there were no injuries, and historic churches were not affected. The main highway linking Jerusalem to Tel Aviv was opened again on Thursday, a day after the flames had encroached on the road, forcing drivers to abandon their cars and flee in terror. On Thursday morning, broad swathes of burned areas were visible from the highway, while pink anti-flame retardant dusted the top of burned trees and bushes. Smoke and the smell of fire hung heavy in the air. In 2010, a massive forest fire burned for four days on northern Israel's Mount Carmel, claiming 44 lives and destroying around 12,000 acres, much of it woodland.
