Israel Fire and Rescue Services

Rescue forces searching for a swimmer who went missing in the sea off Tel Aviv on August 20, 2019. (Flash90)

August 20, 2019, 12:02 pm

Body of swimmer swept away from Tel Aviv beach found

Police and others conducted major search operation after ultra-Orthodox father from Jerusalem went missing during late-night dip

By Stuart Winer

A balloon carrying an incendiary device is flown out from the Gaza Strip on May 31, 2019 (Hassan Jedi/Flash90)

August 19, 2019, 3:22 pm

Gaza balloon suspected of causing bush fire near border community

Fire and rescue services extinguish small blaze in Sdot Negev Regional Council area close to boundary with Palestinian enclave

By TOI staff

An Israeli soldier uses a fire hose in an undated photograph. (Israel Defense Forces)

July 10, 2019, 8:20 pm

South sees stark drop in number of fires caused by Gaza arson attacks

Unclear whether fivefold fall in blazes in border region is due to improved IDF abilities or fewer launches of balloon-borne incendiaries

By Judah Ari Gross

Palestinians clash with Israeli forces on the Israel-Gaza border near Gaza City, June 28, 2019. (Hassan Jedi/Flash90)

June 28, 2019, 8:46 pm

Gaza arson balloons spark 14 fires; IDF jeep set ablaze in border riots

Hours after unofficial truce takes effect, 50 Palestinians said wounded as 7,000 protest on Gaza border against US-led economic conference in Bahrain; no reported Israeli injuries

By TOI staff

A firefighter works to extinguish a blaze caused by an incendiary device from the Gaza Strip in southern Israel on June 27, 2019. (Fire and Rescue Services)

June 27, 2019, 6:52 pm

Gaza incendiary balloons spark dozens of fires in southern Israel

At least 30 blazes reported in areas close to the border, putting Thursday on track to have the most arson attacks in a single day

By Judah Ari Gross

An Israeli soldier extinguishes a fire sparked by an incendiary balloon launched from the Gaza Strip, in a forest next to Kibbutz Nahal Oz in southern Israel, on June 26, 2019. (Menahem Kahana/AFP)

June 26, 2019, 8:35 pm

Gaza arson balloons spark 19 blazes in south

Wednesday’s attacks come day after Israel cut off fuel supplies to Strip over launching of incendiary devices

By TOI staff

Palestinian fishing boats are seen in the Mediterranean Sea at the port in Gaza City on May 10, 2019. (Mohammed Abed/AFP)

June 6, 2019, 5:48 pm

Israel cuts back Gaza fishing zone following incendiary balloon launches

Restricted area back down to 10 nautical miles one day after being expanded to 15 miles; Gaza-based official says fisherman should not be punished for crimes of arsonists

By Adam Rasgon

Aya Abu Diaa, who died June 4, 2019, when a car she was playing in caught fire. (Courtesy)

June 4, 2019, 9:11 pm

Girl, 4, dies in burning car in Bedouin village north of Jerusalem

Initial police investigation into death of Aya Abu Diaa suggests children were playing with matches in abandoned vehicle

By TOI staff

A fire outside the farming community of Even Sapir, west of Jerusalem, is seen on June 4, 2019. (Noam Revkin Fenton/Flash90)

June 4, 2019, 7:17 pm

Dozens of homes evacuated as brush fire rages in Jerusalem area

Fire and Rescue Services dispatches planes, helicopter to battle blaze near Even Sapir; separate fire outside capital leads to partial highway closure

By TOI staff

A resident stands next to burned grounds in Mevo Modi'im holds a sing that reads "Mevo Modiim Refugee Camp" in protest of the government's lack of support for the moshav, May 30, 2019. (courtesy Inbal Mustacchi)

May 31, 2019, 6:42 am

Residents of burned moshav plead for answers as politics overshadows their loss

Fire destroyed almost every home in Mevo Modi’im on May 23. Now homeless locals are left in limbo and feel deserted by authorities, who they say are more focused on elections

By Melanie Lidman

Fire fighters at the scene of a fire in an apartment in the northern city of Safed, on May 25, 2019. (Basel Awidat/Flash90)

May 29, 2019, 12:22 pm

Children playing with fire caused blaze that killed toddler, assessment finds

Firefighters say unclear exactly what kids were using that set alight apartment in Safed, urge installation of smoke detectors

By TOI staff

Firefighters work to extinguish a blaze in the Eshkol region of southern Israel that was sparked by a balloon-borne incendiary device from the Gaza Strip on May 22, 2019. (Eli Cohen/Fire and Rescue Services)

May 28, 2019, 9:25 pm

Incendiary balloon sparks blaze in Gaza border region

No reports of injury and damage to property; fire and rescue services say investigation finds flames were caused by airborne-incendiary

By TOI staff

Israeli firefighters check a house that was badly damaged by a fire amid an extreme heat wave in the village of Mevo Modi'im, in central Israel on May 24, 2019. (JACK GUEZ / AFP)

May 26, 2019, 2:02 pm

Authorities suspect arson behind fire that gutted central Israel village

Fire services previously blamed faulty power line for blaze that destroyed 40 of the 50 homes in Mevo Modi’im

By TOI staff

An Israeli flag is pictured in front of vehicles that were badly damaged by a fire amidst extreme heat wave in the village of Mevo Modi'im, in central Israel on May 24, 2019. (JACK GUEZ / AFP)

May 26, 2019, 8:38 am

Over 1,000 fires ravage Israel over 3 days, forcing evacuation of thousands

Fire services declare end of operation after blazes burn almost 8,000 dunams; residents whose homes were destroyed hold uplifting ceremony vowing to rebuild their village

By TOI staff

Firefighters extinguish the remains of a fire in Kibbutz Harel, on May 24, 2019. (Noam Revkin Fenton/Flash90)

May 24, 2019, 2:56 pm

Israel battles new wave of wildfires on hottest day of the year

15 treated for smoke inhalation as blaze nears settlement, prompting evacuations; Israelis told to stay away from nature reserves, forests; electrical fault blamed for some fires

By TOI staff