Wildfire consumes 500 acres of Beit Shemesh woodland

A large wildfire swept through the woods near the central town of Beit Shemesh on Saturday night, scorching 500 acres of brush and forcing the evacuation of nearby residents.

Firefighting crews battled the blaze for three hours overnight in an attempt to control the flames. No injuries were reported, nor was the cause of the fire determined. Firefighters also struggled to contain a fire near the industrial district of the central town of Rosh Ha’ayin. Part of the roof of the warehouse in which the fire broke out collapsed, according to Ynet.

Fires erupted all across Israel Saturday caused by dry and windy weather and human carelessness.

Five firefighting crews battled a blaze that erupted in the United Nations compound in Jerusalem Saturday evening. Israel Fire Services said four vehicles caught fire in the Armon Hanatziv neighborhood of the capital.

The cause of the fire has yet to be determined, but firefighters think it might have been started by sparks blowing over from Lag B’Omer bonfires being held in a nearby field.

Two people were lightly injured in a forest fire in a park outside of Modiin, and residents of Almagor in the Golan Heights were briefly ordered to evacuate their homes because of approaching flames.

In light of the extremely dry and windy weather conditions, Public Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovich ordered to raise the national alert level and reinforce firefighting crews across the country.

Saturday night marks the Jewish holiday of Lag B’Omer, which is traditionally celebrated by lighting bonfires. The firefighting services have urged the public to practice caution.