Firefighters battling flames in six main areas as blaze continues near Jerusalem

Firefighting teams are continuing to operate in six main areas to battle flames outside Jerusalem, the Fire and Rescue Services says in an update, including Canada Park and Eshtaol near Beit Shemesh.

Fire chief Eyal Caspi says in a statement that the firefighters have been “working in difficult conditions, with heroism, dedication and self-sacrifice.”

Caspi adds that the “teams have been working for long hours, almost without any breaks, from yesterday morning until now, and will continue to work with great intensity.” He says the firefighters have “proven again and again that the people of Israel have someone to rely on.”

Keren Kayement L’Yisrael stresses that people should not come to any national forests in the center of Israel, and that doing so is putting their lives and the lives of others in danger. The Nature and Parks Authority says that a number of national parks surrounding Jerusalem are shut and people should stay away.