Forest fire rages along Jerusalem-Tel Aviv corridor

A fire broke out on Sunday afternoon just west of Jerusalem, in the area between the Ein Hemed forest and the Mevasseret Zion suburb, leading to widespread evacuations. According to Walla News, several houses caught fire.

Twenty-six firefighting teams from across the region were battling the blaze, alongside six firefighting planes and one police helicopter.

Four people were injured as a result of the flames. Three civilians were treated for smoke inhalation and one firefighter suffered mild injuries after falling from a ladder.

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Local authorities have asked motorists on the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway to use alternate routes when possible.

One resident of Mevasseret Zion described the scene to Army Radio as “a shocking sight – like a war.”

By mid-afternoon, firefighters announced that the fire was contained, but not yet under control. They estimated that they would gain control of the flames by nightfall.

Last week, a fire broke out near Har Gilo in southern Jerusalem. Israeli and Palestinian firefighters worked together to control that blaze, in which nobody was injured but 40 dunams (10 acres) of olive tree plantations were destroyed.