Police chief warns of more fires in days ahead
Dry conditions, high winds increase likelihood of further blazes around the country; forces remain in Zichron Yaakov
Israel’s Police Chief Roni Alsheich warned that recent weather conditions would increase the likelihood of more forest fires in the coming days.
Speaking from a command center near the scene of a major blaze in Zichron Yaakov Tuesday, Alsheich told journalists that “we have gone through a tough couple of days and we are expecting the next couple to be no less difficult.” Officials said that unseasonably dry conditions and high winds have made the area ripe for brush fires.
Alsheich said that weather was behind the fire in Zichron Yaakov. “Due to the fire there was significant damage to homes and property,” he said, adding that, luckily, residents were evacuated in time and there were no serious injuries.
The police chief told reporters that forces would remain in the area of the damaged homes to prevent trespassers or thieves from entering. Residents “have no cause to fear or to try and return to the danger area. It is important to continue to follow police instructions,” he said.
“In addition to dealing with the event, we are trying to continue to protect the quality of life and to prevent civilians entering the danger area. We will continue our efforts during the night,” he said. “Currently the situation looks better than it did a few hours ago.”
The blaze in Zichron Yaakov, a town south of Haifa, engulfed dozens of homes and caused police to evacuate several neighborhoods. Firefighters dispatched eight planes and 40 vehicles to tamp down the fire.
Thirteen people were treated for smoke inhalation as the fire licked the forest around the city and encroached on tony neighborhoods of private homes in the northeast of the hillside city, according to the Magen David Adom rescue service. “Eleven people have been evacuated to Hillel Yaffe hospital, among them are a seven year old girl, a four year old boy and a one year old girl. A ten month old male toddler was evacuated to Rambam hospital,” a spokesperson said.
At least 10 homes were destroyed in the blaze, Israel Radio reported.
The conflagration was the latest in a day that has seen several fires whipped up by high winds and dry conditions, starting with a forest fire that led to the overnight evacuation of the Neve Shalom community outside Jerusalem.
Residents of the coexistence community were told they could return to their homes late Tuesday morning after firefighters successfully beat back the fire before it reached the village.
Fires were also reported Tuesday near Nesher, a suburb of Haifa, Hadera, south of the bay city and in the Etzion Bloc, south of Jerusalem, near the community of Rosh Tzurim.
