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fires in Israel

Illustrative: Israelis enjoy the beach in Tel Aviv during a heatwave, on April 24, 2024. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)
July 30, 2026, 7:42 pm
Following Europe, Israel braces for dayslong extreme heat wave on Friday
Hot spell slated to hit Jordan Valley hardest, temperatures set to soar to 46ºC (116ºF); Health Ministry urges public to avoid sun exposure
By Diana Bletter
People inspect damage caused by a fire on July 18 in the Israeli settlement of Havat Gilad in the West Bank, seen on July 19, 2026. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
July 20, 2026, 5:02 pm
Police arrest 2 Palestinians in connection with devastating fire at West Bank settlement
No casualties in Havat Gilad blaze, which forced over 100 families to evacuate, destroyed 13 homes; police said to believe it was lit unintentionally by cigarette butt; probe ongoing
By Charlie Summers
Illustrative: Firefighters battle blazes in Jerusalem, May 16, 2025. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
July 18, 2026, 4:42 pm
Fires force evacuations in northern community, West Bank settlement
Several homes catch fire in Havat Gilad, near Nablus; In Jezreel Valley town, first line of houses is vacated as firefighters tackle blaze; no reports of injuries
By ToI Staff
Rescue services on the scene of a fire in Netanya, Israel, on February 25, 2026. (Magen David Adom)
February 25, 2026, 1:06 pm
Two dead, at least 9 hurt in Netanya apartment building fire
Blaze that killed two octogenarians was likely caused by candles left burning unattended, investigators say
By ToI Staff
Israeli firefighters at a blaze in the West Bank settlement of Mevo Horon in November 2025 (Israel Fire and Rescue)
December 17, 2025, 9:25 am
As Israeli families kindle Hanukkah lights, fire safety awareness is a burning issue
Strict building codes and construction practices put fire-related deaths in Israel among the lowest in the world, but negligence is a leading cause of home blazes, especially during the holidays
By Zev Stub
A fire engine arrives at the scene of a fire in the Judean Hills around Jerusalem, on August 12, 2025. (Courtesy/Fire and Rescue Service)
August 12, 2025, 5:23 pm
Car bursts into flames, sparking forest fire on Jerusalem’s outskirts
Firefighters gain control over blaze, which spread due to extreme heat and strong winds, says official; Fire and Rescue Service probing cause of auto fire
By Charlie Summers
Buses that went up in flames after a fire broke out in a Bat Yam bus terminal on July 26, 2025. (Magen David Adom)
July 27, 2025, 3:38 pm
Man killed in bus fire in Bat Yam parking lot; police investigate arson suspicion
Victim was reportedly homeless Sudanese refugee who sought shelter in parked vehicle; authorities say initial findings do not point to terror motive in fire that damaged 4 buses
By Charlie Summers
Members of the Knesset Honor Guard, Home Front Command, firefighters, IDF and Israel's Magen David Adom emergency medical services participate in an emergency drill simulating an earthquake near Ashkelon, on December 19, 2019. (Yaniv Nadav/Flash90)
July 22, 2025, 9:23 pm
Israel woefully unprepared, unequipped to deal with major earthquake, ombudsman finds
Damning audit shows government never acted on recommendations from 2021 to streamline process of getting buildings up to code, and doesn’t work with local authorities on the issue
By Shira Silkoff
View of a massive wildfire near Latrun, outside of Jerusalem, April 30, 2025. (Yossi Zamir/Flash90)
May 20, 2025, 6:26 pm
Probe rules out arson in massive Jerusalem-area blazes – report
Contrary to rumors blaming wildfires on Palestinian arsonists, investigation said to conclude blazes flared up from a fire that broke out a week earlier
By Charlie Summers
A burnt-out fire engine that went up in flames during massive wildfires in central Israel on April 30, 2025, seen on May 4, 2025. (Charlie Summers/Times of Israel)
May 8, 2025, 5:50 pm
Ahead of Lag B’Omer, comptroller warns PM that recent fires ‘must be a wake-up call’
Matanyahu Englman tells Netanyahu that major blazes outside Jerusalem ‘could have claimed dozens of lives,’ and underfunded Fire Service ‘cannot contend with the challenge alone’
By ToI Staff
View of a massive wildfire near Latrun, outside of Jerusalem, April 30, 2025. (Yossi Zamir/Flash90)
May 4, 2025, 9:03 pm
Fire authority needs ‘double the budget’ to cope during era of mega-fires — official
Head of National Fire and Rescue Authority’s Fire Research Branch: ‘What would happen in case of simultaneous fire events countrywide?’
By Sue Surkes
An Israeli firefighter battles a wildfire near Latrun, Israel, outside of Jerusalem, May 1, 2025. (AP/Ohad Zwigenberg)
May 1, 2025, 11:55 am
Fires near Jerusalem burn for second day but roads, towns reopen with foreign aid on way
Planes from Europe expected in coming hours; firefighter numbers scaled back; all evacuees okayed to return home, though wildfires still active in six areas, clouding Independence Day celebrations
By ToI Staff
A firefighter tries to extinguish a massive wildfire at Canada Park, west of Jerusalem, April 30, 2025. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
May 1, 2025, 9:58 am
Government accused of failing to take fire threat seriously despite years of warnings
Leaders cut budget for already undermanned fire service, and National Security Council ignored calls for session on wildfire preparation until after blaze broke out Wednesday
By Sue Surkes
Yair Netanyahu attends an event after the release of first voting results in the Israeli general elections, at the Likud party headquarters in Tel Aviv, on September 18, 2019. (Gili Yaari/Flash90/File)
May 1, 2025, 12:44 am
PM’s firebrand son baselessly suggests Israeli left to blame for major blazes
Yair Netanyahu claims the fires are ‘suspicious’ because ‘the Kaplanist left has been frantically trying in recent weeks to cancel Independence Day celebrations’
By ToI Staff
Firefighters work to extinguish a forest fire burning in the Jerusalem hills, April 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)
April 30, 2025, 10:45 pm
Hundreds battle blazes ripping through Jerusalem area; fire may be Israel’s largest ever
IDF helps fire service, police fight wildfires in Jerusalem hills as towns evacuated, Jerusalem-Tel Aviv road closed; dozens suffer smoke inhalation, burns, but nobody seriously hurt
By Charlie Summers, Emanuel Fabian, Lazar Berman and ToI Staff
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