Firefighters battle forest fire in Jerusalem area

Police close a section of Route 44 to traffic as firefighters combat blazes spreading through a forest in the greater Jerusalem region, after a car fire broke out on the road and spread to nearby flora.

Firefighters say they received a report around noon regarding a burning vehicle near Eshtaol Forest, in the Judean Hills surrounding the capital, which was badly damaged by fires earlier this summer.

“Firefighting crews from the Beit Shemesh region were dispatched to the scene, but before they arrived, the flames had already spread from the roadside to the nearby forest area,” says a fire service official. Several firefighting planes have also been deployed to assist forces on the ground.

The extreme heat, coupled with stronger-than-usual winds, has accelerated the fire’s spread, the official notes.

This week has seen a massive heatwave sweep the country, with temperatures in the Jerusalem region reaching 39°C (102.2°F) today. Tomorrow and Thursday are expected to be even warmer, with a high of 41°C (105.8°F).

Border Police officers are operating in the area of the fire to direct traffic and ensure public safety, law enforcement says. As of now, police have not begun evacuating residents in nearby communities.