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National Post

Israeli Air Force uses big guns to contain Jerusalem-area fire

Israeli Air Force pilots have joined firefighting teams working to contain several conflagrations that have consumed about 5,000 acres (2,000 hectares) of forest and terrain, mostly near Jerusalem. Article content Article content These efforts and weather conditions helped stabilize the situation, but the Israel Fire & Rescue Authority said in a statement on Thursday morning that its 155 teams were still working to contain the fires, in which no one was killed but which resulted in the hospitalization of 12 civilians and 17 firefighters. Thousands of residents have been evacuated from their homes in the Judean Foothills. Article content Article content On Wednesday night, the IAF deployed its big guns in the fight against the fires: its two Samson airplanes, the Israeli name for the Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules, which has only recently been added to Israel's firefighting arsenal. Article content Article content Samsons converted into fire extinguishing aircraft have been conducting dozens of sorties since Wednesday night, the Israel Defense Forces said, dumping up to 15,000 litres of water or fire retardant per flight. The Foreign Ministry has reached out for assistance to nearby countries, including Greece, Cyprus, Croatia, Italy and Bulgaria, it said in a statement. Article content On the ground, firefighters battled flames across the country, but on Thursday morning, they still had not 'gained control of the fires,' the Fire and Rescue Authority's statement said. Three roads that had been closed on Wednesday — Roads 1, 3 and 38 — were reopened on Thursday, police said. Article content Canada Park near Beit Shemesh has been hardest hit, according to a statement by KKL-JNF, a eco-Zionist organization dedicated to the sustainable development of Israel, and especially its forest management programs. Article content Article content Several countries have already pledged to send help. Spain will dispatch two firefighting planes, while France, Romania, Croatia and Italy have also confirmed they will send aircraft. Ukraine has now joined the list as well, said the Foreign Ministry statement. Article content Article content Alongside the Samsons and another especially-fitted firefighting aircraft, Israel's firefighting Elad squadron has 14 Air Tractor AT-802F firefighting aircraft, five Airbus H-125 helicopters and two Airbus Helicopters H-145 helicopters. In the first hours of the fire that began on Wednesday at around noon, many of these aircraft were not able to operate due to strong winds. Article content Shin Bet (Israel's Security Agency) is investigating the fires, which started on Israel's Memorial Day, hours before its Independence Day celebrations. Incitement calling on Palestinians to set fires circulated on social media ahead of the holiday, which coincided with dry and windy weather.