7 people hurt as fires rage in northern Israel; national park, town evacuated

Medics treat injured for smoke inhalation, vehicles damaged in blaze near Gan HaShlosha, also known as Sakhne; 50 homes cleared in Rameh

By Emanuel Fabian 3 July 2021, 4:47 pm Edit

Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent

  • Firefighters battle a blaze near the Gan HaShlosha national park in northern Israel, on July 3, 2021. (Fire and Rescue Services)
    Firefighters battle a blaze near the Gan HaShlosha national park in northern Israel, on July 3, 2021. (Fire and Rescue Services)
  • Fire damage shown near the Gan Hashlosha national park (Sakhne) after a blaze broke out Saturday, July 3, 2021. (Israel Nature and Parks Authority)
    Fire damage shown near the Gan Hashlosha national park (Sakhne) after a blaze broke out Saturday, July 3, 2021. (Israel Nature and Parks Authority)
  • Firefighters put out a blaze near the Gan HaShlosha national park in northern Israel, on July 3, 2021. (Fire and Rescue Services)
    Firefighters put out a blaze near the Gan HaShlosha national park in northern Israel, on July 3, 2021. (Fire and Rescue Services)
  • A number of vehicles were severely damaged in a fire near the Gan Hashlosha national park, on Saturday, July 3, 2021. (Israel Nature and Parks Authority)
    A number of vehicles were severely damaged in a fire near the Gan Hashlosha national park, on Saturday, July 3, 2021. (Israel Nature and Parks Authority)
  • A fire burns near the Gan HaShlosha national park in northern Israel, on July 3, 2021. (Video screenshot)
    A fire burns near the Gan HaShlosha national park in northern Israel, on July 3, 2021. (Video screenshot)
  • A fire burns near the Gan HaShlosha national park in northern Israel, on July 3, 2021. (Israel Nature and Parks Authority)
    A fire burns near the Gan HaShlosha national park in northern Israel, on July 3, 2021. (Israel Nature and Parks Authority)

Multiple brush fires blazed Saturday in northern Israel causing visitors of a national park and dozens of residents of a separate town to evacuate.

One of the blazes was near the Gan HaShlosha (Sakhne) national park. Seven people suffering from smoke inhalation were treated by Magen David Adom medics and were taken to the nearby Emek Medical Center in Afula.

Police forces evacuated the rest of the site’s visitors as the flames continued to spread. Firefighters involved with the efforts told the Times of Israel the fire near the national park was under control after an hour of battling the blaze.

Nine vehicles near the site were damaged.

In a separate fire, police evacuated some 50 homes near the Arab town of Rameh, just east of Karmiel, and closed roads in the area.

The evacuated homes were those closest to the fire, according to authorities.

At least ten firefighting teams were responding to the fires near Rameh’s Daba neighborhood. There were no reports of injuries.

It was not immediately clear what caused either of the blazes.

A fire burns near the Gan HaShlosha national park in northern Israel, on July 3, 2021. (Video screenshot)

Fire and Rescue Services, Israel Police and MDA opened joint temporary headquarters in Rameh to coordinate efforts.

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