Wildfire rages near Jerusalem, leading some residents of Yefe Nof to evacuate homes

A large wildfire broke out Monday near the Jerusalem neighborhood of Yefe Nof, with some residents being evacuated, as authorities fear the blaze could spread toward the Yad Vashem Holocaust museum.

According to the Fire and Rescue Service, the fire is raging in two points, and land and aerial teams are working to contain it.

Due to heavy smoke, residents were asked to stay indoors and close windows.

The fire service said that 22 fire crews are working on the scene and seven firefighting aircraft had been dispatched to help with the effort.

The fire service added that the cause of the fire is under investigation, and estimated that the blaze will be contained within hours.

The Jerusalem area has faced several major wildfires in recent weeks, the most severe of which took place in late April, when a heatwave sparked fires thought to be some of the largest in Israel’s history. The fires, which took 30 hours to get under control, burned through about 20,000 acres.

Those blazes led to the evacuation of several communities as well as the cancellation of most Independence Day celebrations. There were no major injuries, though some people had to be treated for smoke inhalation.