The Fire and Rescue Authority is enlisting firefighters from six districts to put out a wave of forest fires currently engulfing central Israel.
According to Hebrew media, 110 squads of firefighters, eight firefighting planes and a helicopter are working to extinguish the conflagrations overtaking Eshtaol Forest, north of Beit Shemesh.
Meanwhile, 25 other teams are operating near Route 6 in the Shfela region to protect the moshavs of Petahia, Pedaya and Yatzitz.
The fires are currently spreading north in the direction of Route 1, says a police spokesman. Officers are scanning for hikers in areas threatened by the brush fires.
Jerusalem District police are evacuating residents of Beit Meir, as well as Eshtaol and Mesilat Zion, to the nearby moshavim of Tzora and Beit Nekofa.
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From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, April 23, 2025
