Wildfires Rage Throughout Israel

Haaretz

For the third consecutive day, fires burned throughout Israel on Thursday as tens of thousands were told to evacuate northern Israel immediately.

The security establishment increasingly believes that several of the wildfires may have been politically motivated cases of arson, though they are likely a series of isolated incidents and not the work of a larger organization.

Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan said the fires, which have been largely fueled by a two-month drought, are expected pick up further Thursday and Friday and last until next week due to heavy wind gusts.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, who confirmed that Russia will immediately send two Be-200 planes to help battle the fires. Turkey also agreed to send aircraft to help battle the fires, joining Greece, Italy, Croatia and Cyprus in those who have pledged to help. Ten planes in total are being sent to Israel. 

In the northern city of Haifa, several roads and schools were closed and dozens of residents were evacuated in some neighborhoods, while tens of thousands were told to evacuate immediately.

Haifa Mayor Yonah Yahav told Channel 2 TV there were several fires in his city. Yahav also said there were indications one of the fires was caused when “someone tossed a cigarette in an area full of oil and flammable fluids” in an industrial zone. Thick smoke billowed over homes as high flames scorched trees and greenery nearby.

A blaze in the Jerusalem corridor consumed part of a decades-old hilltop community, and northern Zichron Yaakov was on lockdown after some of its homes were destroyed by blazes on Tuesday.

Six years ago, Israel brought in a U.S. supertanker to help douse a fire in the Carmel Forest near Haifa that claimed the lives of 40 Israelis, most of them prison guards and police officers.