A series of impressive wildfires hit Israel

A series of large-scale forest fires devastated the Eshtaol forest area on the outskirts of Jerusalem this Wednesday, forcing entire communities to evacuate, closing major roads, and suspending rail traffic between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

These fires mark the second time in a week that flames have threatened populations in the west of the Israeli capital.

According to the Fire and Rescue Service, the fires were spreading in at least five different points in the Jerusalem hills. Extreme weather conditions, with a heatwave and strong winds, made containment efforts difficult.

A total of 63 firefighting teams and 11 tanker planes were deployed in the area, and a general call was issued to all firefighters in the Jerusalem area, later extended to units across the country.

The communities of Neve Shalom, Beko’a, Ta’oz, and Nachshon were evacuated, as well as the Latrun military monument, interrupting an ongoing commemorative ceremony.

A nearby monastery was also evacuated, and authorities warned about the possible evacuation of Mesilat Zion. The Israel Nature and Parks Authority evacuated hikers from several nature reserves in the region.

The country's main highway, Route 1 connecting Jerusalem with Tel Aviv, was closed to traffic, as well as other major routes like Route 3, 65, 70, and 85.

This caused significant traffic congestion, and in some cases, drivers abandoned their vehicles in the middle of the road due to thick smoke. Rail traffic between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv was also suspended.

The Ministry of National Security set up a command center at an IKEA branch in Eshtaol. Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman moved to the area to coordinate emergency operations.

Ben Gvir stated that efforts were underway to mobilize more resources and evacuate stranded citizens. Israel requested international assistance from countries like Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, and Italy, which are closer to the country. 

The emergency organization Magen David Adom (MDA) reported that hundreds of people were at risk due to the fires, and that 16 people had been treated for smoke inhalation, although their injuries were mild.

The alert level was raised to the maximum, and ambulances and mobile units were deployed to assist those who might be affected, including motorcyclists providing medical attention in areas with stalled traffic.

This week's fire adds to a previous one that occurred between Wednesday and Thursday of last week, where 1,000 hectares were consumed by the flames. In that case, there were no fatalities, although some firefighters were slightly injured by smoke inhalation.

Israel experiences long, hot, and dry summers, conditions conducive to forest fires. Most of these fires are caused by human activities, usually due to negligence. Major fires have been recorded in years like 1989, 1995, 2010, 2015, 2019, 2021, and 2023.

A critical report by the State Comptroller in July 2024 revealed that the Fire Authority investigated only 9% of the fires in 2022 and 14% in 2023, leaving more than 50% of the cases open for over a year.

In response to the crisis, Minister Miri Regevannounced the cancellation of the central Independence Day ceremony, scheduled for Wednesday night in Jerusalem, due to the extreme danger.

Israeli authorities have classified the situation as a national emergency, and have called on all available resources to contain the flames and protect lives.