Fire reignites outside Tzur Hadassah, threatens other communities

16 firefighting teams aided by planes battle blaze near Jerusalem before once more bringing it under control; none hurt

By ToI Staff 5 June 2021, 6:14 pm

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Firefighters try to extinguish a forest fire in the woods of Tzur Hadassah, outside Jerusalem, on June 4, 2021 (Nati Shohat/FLASH90)

A fire that threatened hundreds of homes in Tzur Hadassah near Jerusalem Friday reignited Saturday, endangering other communities in the area.

Fire and Rescue Services said 16 teams were deployed to fight the blaze, aided by six firefighting planes, as winds blew the flames in the direction of Beit Illit and Gva’ot.

Officials said there were no reports of casualties or damage to property.

The fire was eventually brought under control once more.

On Friday, residents living in the first line of homes in Tzur Hadassah’s Rehasim and Karkom neighborhoods were evacuated and taken to a sports hall in the town that was not threatened.

Later Friday, officials announced that the blaze was under control and reopened the nearby Route 375 that had been blocked to traffic. Residents were allowed back to their homes.

Thirty-five firefighting teams from across the country and 10 firefighting aircraft worked to extinguish the blaze, firefighters said.