Despite the fire being brought under control, emergency services on Tuesday morning expressed concern that strong winds could spread the fire again in the afternoon.
The fire has burned nearly 2,000 hectares (4,940 acres) of land so far, Simchi said on Monday evening, adding that the fire is on the scale of the Carmel Fire, which burned massive land in northern Israel in 2010, killing 44 people. were killed.
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Lands scorched by wildfires west of Jerusalem, August 17, 2021(Credit: Yaniv Cohen/Nature and Park Authority)Hundreds of firefighters worked overnight at several hot spots to douse the fire. On Tuesday morning, eight firefighters and helicopters began to work to fight the flames, with firefighters aiming to make as much progress as possible while winds were low and humidity high to prevent the fire from spreading.
Firefighters are also concentrating efforts to ensure that the fire is kept away from Hadassah-University Medical Center, Ein Kerem, Army Radio reports, adding that officials are concerned they will be unable to evacuate the entire hospital safely. .
The Ministry of Communications announced on Tuesday that the fire had damaged cellular service sites, affected Cellcom and Pelephone service and Bezek infrastructure, affecting internet and telephone service in some places. A Bejek broadcast site in Eitnim was repaired after it was damaged yesterday.
The Beat Me Fire(Credit: Ariel Kedem)Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said on Tuesday that Israel no longer needed international aid to put out the fires in the Jerusalem hills.
Lapid thanked countries that expressed their willingness to send firefighters, including Jordan, Greece and Cyprus. Israel also asked others, including Italy and France.
“Israel is here to help you with all you can,” Lapid tweeted. “Our firefighters have been working very hard for many days in difficult conditions. I send my compliments from here. Be safe.”
Ben-Gurion Airport’s special fire fighting system joined the effort on Tuesday, with aviation fire engines that can hold about 12,000 liters of water and travel a long distance.
The Israeli Air Force’s Hercules military transport aircraft will also join aerial firefighting efforts in an operational experiment on Tuesday, according to Israeli media.
Palestinian firefighters and firefighters also joined the fighting on Tuesday, according to Israeli media.
The Ministry of Environmental Protection on Tuesday warned of high levels of air pollution in Tsuba, Givat Yerim, Itnim Medical Center and surrounding areas. The ministry recommended that cardio-respiratory patients, the elderly, children and pregnant women avoid being outside unnecessarily and recommended that everyone reduce physical activity outside, close windows and turn on air conditioners.
Israel Fire and Rescue Services announced a general call-up on Monday afternoon to focus efforts to fight the escalating fire.
Israel Fire and Rescue Services firefighting aircraft. (credit: Arleigh Crombie)About 2,000 residents of several towns in the area were evacuated on Monday as the fire spread due to strong winds, although many of them were allowed to return to their homes on Monday night.
The Nature and Parks Authority announced Monday that it estimates efforts to put out the fire will continue for a few days and thousands of animals and insects have been injured or killed by the fires.
Environmental Protection Minister Tamar Zandberg warned Monday that such fires, extreme weather, floods and climate disasters will become more frequent and powerful in the coming years because of the climate crisis.
“It requires us to prepare completely differently for impending climate disasters,” Zandberg said. “I am working to declare a climate emergency for the State of Israel. We must define the climate crisis as a strategic threat that requires all parties to prepare and deal better. Because from now on It’s getting worse. Something has to be done, and it needs to be done now.”
Now in the Fire Brigade in the mountains of Jerusalem, along with the Fire Brigade, Police and the Ministry of Environmental Protection. The climate crisis will make such events more frequent and powerful, and Israel is particularly vulnerable to dehydration and warming. Climate disasters should be declared a strategic threat, and prepared accordingly.
Sisyphean and thanks to the forces for the important work pic.twitter.com/dH1Kxja58r— Tamar Zandberg (@tamarzandberg) August 16, 2021
A massive forest fire broke out near Jerusalem on Sunday, burning hundreds of hectares of forest to ashes and threatening surrounding communities. High temperatures and strong winds helped the fire spread rapidly to the west of the capital.
Lahav Harkov contributed to this report.