Jerusalem school blaze injures dozens; 3 in serious condition
Rescuers say 38 people hospitalized after being pulled from fire at religious postsecondary women’s school dormitory, including guard who tried to save students trapped inside

Over 30 people were hospitalized Monday after a fire broke out in a Jerusalem dormitory at a postsecondary religious school, including three victims who suffered life-threatening injuries.
Firefighters managed to pull some three dozen female students from the seminary building on David Yellin Street in the Nahlaot section of the capital after receiving reports of the blaze just after dawn on Monday, the Fire and Rescue Service said.
Others, including a security guard who had reportedly rushed into the building to save the women, were also rescued.
The Magen David Adom rescue service said 38 people in total were taken to hospitals following the blaze, including three people aged between 18 and 25 listed in serious condition.
Two men, aged 18 and 32, were listed in moderate condition.
The other 33 people were in good condition after suffering smoke inhalation, MDA said.
שריפה במבנה סמינר ברחוב דוד ילין בירושלים. pic.twitter.com/IvgLAVg7PM
— מאחורי 'הפרגוד' (@moshepargod) December 23, 2024
A total of 12 firefighting teams were called to fight the blaze, which broke out on the top floor of the building.
Shmulik Friedman, commander of Fire and Rescue Services in Jerusalem, told Hebrew-language media the fire started in an electrical closet and that it was not clear if the building’s sprinkler system had kicked in.
The matter would be checked with the municipality, he said according to a report from the Kan public broadcaster.
A student living on the top floor of the dormitory told Channel 12 that she and her three roommates woke to the smell of smoke Monday morning.
“We opened the door and smoke came in so we closed the door,” said the student, who was not named.
The students were eventually rescued by exiting through a window, apparently with the assistance of fire crews.