Jerusalem-area blaze finally under control, says fire official

Fire and Rescue Services Commissioner Dedy Simhi says that after 52 hours of battling the flames, the Jerusalem-area blaze is contained.

According to a statement from fire officials, firefighters fought back flames at seven different locations, with the backing of 20 firefighting planes. Ten different communities in the areas west of Jerusalem were fully evacuated, and the vast majority have returned home, says the statement.

The three-day operation included 1,500 firefighters, as well as 190,000 liters (50,200 gallons) of flame retardant materials dispersed over 238 total flight hours. Twenty firefighters from the Palestinian Authority also assisted in the efforts.

The announcement came about an hour after the Israel Air Force deployed its “Super Hercules” aircraft to dump 16 tons of flame retardant chemicals on the relevant areas.