Arson suspected as fire breaks out at IDF base for second day

For the second day in a row, a fire breaks out on a military base in Nahal Sorek, between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

Today’s fire is smaller than yesterday’s and the firefighting teams working in the area have the blaze under control and should have it out shortly, according to a fire department spokesperson.

The spokesperson, Yoram Levy, says the fire department is looking into the possibility that both today’s and yesterday’s fires were started by arsonists, as they originated from multiple sources around the same time.

However, he stresses that the investigations have only just begun and it is too soon to be certain.

Four airplanes and 12 firefighting teams were used in today’s fire, as compared to the six planes and 18 teams called in to tackle yesterday’s blaze.

The large army base is home to the IDF’s Ammunition Center, which stores and maintains the military’s weaponry, including everything from simple bullets to advanced missiles.

The munitions do not appear to be at risk from the fire.

— Judah Ari Gross