State steps in to help Israelis whose homes went up in flames
Damage assessors dispatched to Haifa, as Kahlon orders cash handouts to victims; new hotline connects host families with those left homeless
Israel began Friday to help citizens whose homes have been burned or damaged in the fires that have swept across swathes of the country since Tuesday.
Haifa Mayor Yona Yahav and Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon said Friday property assessors would go to the northern city as soon as the fires are fully out to gauge the damage caused to some 700 homes, Army Radio reported. Over 400 homes are said to be unlivable, and 37 completely destroyed.
Kahlon visited Haifa on Friday, where he authorized officials to hand out cash advances to those left homeless and without money.
Also Friday, Housing Minister Yoav Galant announced the launch of a hotline for citizens affected by the blazes, aiming to connect those whose property was damaged with others willing to host families or donate furniture.
The hotline is available by phone on *6266, or on the Hebrew Facebook page “New Amidar.”
All Haifa residents were cleared Friday afternoon to return to their homes, police said, after more than 60,000 people were evacuated from the city on Thursday as massive fires spread through the area.
Some streets remained without electricity. Police said officers would continue to patrol the affected neighborhoods to help any of the returning residents who need assistance.
“The public is asked to continue to be alert and take personal responsibility and show an abundance of caution when dealing with anything related to using fire and fire safety,” a police statement read.
Yahav said Friday that the evacuation of some 60,000 residents in the course of Thursday was the largest mass civilian mobilization in the country’s history.
The mayor requested that non-residents stay away from the city until it has time to recover.
Twenty-six people from Haifa were still in hospital Friday — with one elderly woman in moderate condition and the others with light injuries caused by smoke inhalation, according to the Israel Radio.
Several people have been arrested for trying to loot homes that were evacuated, police officials said Friday.
More than a dozen people are in custody for allegedly starting some of the Haifa fires and others elsewhere in Israel. It is not clear how many of the fires were the result of arson, as opposed to negligence and the dry, windy weather. Rain is forecast for later next week.