Police chief warns of more fires in the days ahead

The commissioner of the Israel Police, Roni Alsheich, warns that weather conditions are increasing the likelihood of more brush fires in the coming days.

Speaking from a command center set up near the scene of a major blaze in Zichron Yaakov, Alsheich tells journalists, “We have been through a tough couple of days and we are expecting the coming ones to be no less difficult.”

Officials say that unseasonably dry conditions, combined with high winds, have made the area ripe for fires.

Alsheich says that weather was behind the fire in Zichron Yaakov and that it caused significant damage to homes and property. Luckily, he says, residents were evacuated in time and there were no serious injuries.

The police chief tells reporters that forces will remain in the area of the damaged homes to prevent trespassers or thieves from entering.

— Times of Israel staff