Firefighters gain control over Carmel blaze

Firefighters late Thursday contained the spread of flames in a forest fire near Nir Etzion, in the Carmel Mountains range. A total of 23 firefighting units, along with helicopters, were rushed to the scene in an effort to prevent a repeat of the 2010 tragedy that burned down over 6,000 acres of woodlands and claimed the lives of 44 people.

The fire managed to spread over an area of eight dunams (two acres) but was far enough from populated areas so as not to necessitate resident evacuation.

Hof Hacarmel Regional Council head Carmel Sela said he suspected arsonists were behind the fire and called on the police to investigate.

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A State Comptroller investigation into the Carmel disaster, released last June, found “grave negligence” on the part of the Finance and Interior ministers that left the fire-fighting services woefully ill-equipped and unprepared to tackle the fire that blazed for three days, ravaged thousands of acres of forest, forced thousands to evacuate their homes, and claimed 44 lives, including 37 Prison Service officer cadets and their driver, who perished when their bus became trapped by the flames. Since then, major changes have been made to Israel’s firefighting services, including the establishment of an airborne firefighting squad.

Last summer saw a spike in fires across the country, many of which were believed to have been intentionally started by Palestinians.