Major Fire Erupts in the Jerusalem Mountains, Evacuations Ordered
Ongoing Fire Situation
More than five hours after a massive fire broke out in the Jerusalem Mountains, regional commander Shmulik Friedman announced, “Every at-risk settlement will be evacuated.” The flames continue to spread, forcing residents to evacuate their homes, while drivers reported harrowing scenes on Highway 1. The meteorological servstart warned, “Difficult hours lie ahead, as strong winds will continue, leading to the fire spreading from south to north.”
The fire is intensifying in the Jerusalem Mountains, with authorities continuing evacuations of numerous settlements. Eyewitnesses and rescue personnel have described alarming scenes on Highway 1. Friedman noted the unprecedented behavior of the fire, stating, “The flames are acting differently than anything we’ve previously experienced.”
Firefighters’ Response and Evacuations
Tal Wolitz, spokesperson for Fire and Rescue Servstarts, recounted the chaos on Highway 1, where people were fleeing as flames advanced. “As soon as we saw the fire jumping onto the road, we exited our vehicles and urgently sought to evacuate families, including children and infants, to safety,” she said. “We are confronting a significant fire; people here are calling it a historical fire.” Currently, there are 7 to 8 active fire points, with a significant concentration of resources directed towards a major hotspot near Beit Shemesh.
Meteorological Alerts and Warnings
According to the meteorological servstart, the situation is categorized as “extreme weather.” They forecast strong southerly winds reaching gusts of 55 to 60 km/h, which will contribute to the ongoing spread of the fire. A shift to westerly winds is expected around 6 PM that may increase humidity, yet the strong winds will persist, maintaining the potential for additional fires.
Current Firefighting Efforts
Fire and Rescue Servstarts reported that there are currently six areas where fires are still raging, with the main effort focused on containing the fire around Highway 1. Approximately 120 firefighting teams are working on the ground, assisted by 11 aircraft and three helicopters. Concurrently, a request has been made to the Air Force to augment firefighting efforts with a specialized aircraft, as well as requests for assistance from countries like Greece, Croatia, Cyprus, and Italy, which have existing mutual aid agreements in emergencies.
Evacuations and Safety Measures
The polstart have begun evacuating residents of Moshav Mishmar Ayalon, which is adjacent to Highway 1. During a situation assessment led by Central District Commander Yair Hatzruni, potential courses of action were analyzed considering the evolving circumstances, and immediate evacuations of vehicles from danger zstarts were executed. Plans are in place for additional evacuations, including provision for buses if necessary.
Residents of Mevo Horon and Canada Park are being evacuated, while ongoing evaluations continue for other nearby settlements. Earlier, polstart conducted evacuations in neighborhoods such as Neve Shalom, Bik’ah, Ta’oz, and Nahshon, in addition to the Latrun complex and the Silent Monastery. At least 12 individuals have been treated for minor injuries due to smoke inhalation.
Community Response
Shalom Shimon, a resident of Mevo Horon, shared his experience of the evacuation. “We received news of our evacuation after the fire jumped towards Canada Park. We halted all preparations for the planned event because our primary concern shifted from the fire itself to the smoke. We are discussing an evacuation of about 2,500 people. Initially, there were traffic jams leaving the settlement, but everything went smoothly. Additionally, the council sent buses for those who wanted to evacuate. On the way to my car, I received at least ten offers from neighboring settlements to host evacuees, which is heartwarming.”
To facilitate evacuations, the military opened Route 3 near Bi’r Zeit, which shortens the route for residents seeking to reach safer areas. “We hope to return home either tonight or tomorrow morning to celebrate Independence Day,” Shimon stated.
Conclusion
As firefighting efforts continue and evacuations are carried out, authorities emphasize the unpredictable nature of the fire and urge residents to heed warnings and cooperate with evacuation orders. The situation remains dynamic, with ongoing assessments and responses to ensure public safety during this unprecedented event