Control over fire in Jerusalem area. Watch the documentation
Two huge fires broke out in the Jerusalem area yesterday (Tues.): in Ma'ale Hahamisha and in Mevasseret. About 40 teams of fire forces with the aid of 6 airplanes managed to get control over the flames. Three casualties from inhaling smoke. Gallery of the fire and the huge traffic jams.
- E. Schlesinger & S. Roth, Behadrei Hareidim
- ט' תמוז התשע"ב
יעקב כהן
Two huge fires broke out yesterday afternoon in the Jerusalem area, in Motza and Maale Hahamisha.
The Jerusalem-Tel Aviv road, close to the Motza intersection, was closed to traffic both ways, as a result of thick smoke which rose from the fire. Huge traffic jams formed on both sides of the road.
The roads which were blocked to traffic were: Road no. 1 was blocked in the Motza area to both sides. The Kastel junction towards Hadassah was completely blocked. The police evacuated the traffic in the Ben Shemen intersection towards road no. 443, in Latrun towards road no. 3, and in Sha'ar Haguy intersection towards road no. 38. The Ginot Sacharov intersection and road no. 9 in the Arazim tunnel were blocked.
The Jerusalem police informed that vehicles and buses which were stuck on road no. 1 as a result of blocking the road, are turned back towards Jerusalem or Tel Aviv, according to their direction of travelling.
The traffic department spokesman informed that road no. 1 was opened to traffic in both directions, gradually, after a partial control was gained over the fire.
Tens of teams worked to extinguish the flames, so far the residents of a few houses in Motza were evacuated, and on Shoshana street in Mevasseret Zion. Rescue forces were ready to evacuate other residents in case of need.
Another fire broke out almost in parallel in Kibbutz Maale Hahamisha, and fire teams were alarmed to the scene, and extinguished the flames. The teams worked in order to prevent the fire from reaching living residences close to the fire.
Six extinguishing airplanes were called in to aid with the fires, about 40 teams of fire forces worked on the scene.
At the same time, the local hotel residents in Maale Hahamisha, swimmers in the pool and some of the Kibbutz residents, were evacuated, and the police prepared to evacuate other in case of need.
The fire started spreading towards Mevasseret Zion, and additional fire teams were called in from Natanya, Haifa and Hedera.
Four casualties as a result of smoke inhalation were reported in both fires.
The police major general, Yochanan Danino, made his way to the special headquarters which was set up in Har Hamenuchot. The Jerusalem police informed: "A short while ago, the district general held an assessment of the situation together with fire forces in the Jerusalem city council, and instructed all the forces to continue with quickly extinguishing the fire".
The MDA spokesman, Zachi Heller, informed: "In continuation of the fire events in the Jerusalem area: in an assessment of the situation which the head of MDA held, the level of alertness in the Jerusalem district was raised to level C, which is the highest. Teams of ambulances and I.C. vans of MDA are securing the works of the fire forces, and the residents in the area. At this stage, not injuries were located in the fires, besides treating three slight casualties a result of inhaling smoke at the start of the event, which were treated by MDA teams and did not need further treatment.
"Because of the heavy heat, and in order to help the hundreds of drivers who are stuck on the no. 1 road, the MDA paramedics are driving on motorbikes in between the cars and handing out water bottles, to prevent dehydration and to make sure there is no need for further medical treatment."
It was reported by Ichud Hatzola that tens of paramedics are taking part in securing the large fire forces. The forces are prepared to answer any call of medical case. In addition, the level of alertness of Ichud Hatzola was raised in the Jersualem are, and the in-call paramedics were instructed to listen to their Mirs beepers and to make sure their medical bags are well equipped.
The spokesman of the traffic department informed: "12 ambulances were launched onto the junction, and 24 motorbikes of the traffic department, who are helping the traffic move onto alternative roads, placing an emphasis on road 443 and road 38. The route is free of vehicles, and those vehicles which were abandoned were towed away in order to leave an open route for the rescue forces. The public is asked to refrain from arriving in the area".
The minister of the Internal Defense, Yitzchak Aharonowitz, updated the Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, about the acts which are being done in the area to extinguish the fire. He further informed the Prime Minister that all the airplanes of the fire squadron are taking a central part in putting out the fire.
Yesterday (Tues.) close to 13:00pm , a fire broke in the Lifta Wadi, close to the entrance to Jerusalem, and a few explosions were heard. Damage was caused to caravans in the area.
Jerusalem was covered in smoke and the smell of fire.
The Jerusalem-Tel Aviv road, close to the Motza intersection, was closed to traffic both ways, as a result of thick smoke which rose from the fire. Huge traffic jams formed on both sides of the road.
The roads which were blocked to traffic were: Road no. 1 was blocked in the Motza area to both sides. The Kastel junction towards Hadassah was completely blocked. The police evacuated the traffic in the Ben Shemen intersection towards road no. 443, in Latrun towards road no. 3, and in Sha'ar Haguy intersection towards road no. 38. The Ginot Sacharov intersection and road no. 9 in the Arazim tunnel were blocked.
The Jerusalem police informed that vehicles and buses which were stuck on road no. 1 as a result of blocking the road, are turned back towards Jerusalem or Tel Aviv, according to their direction of travelling.
The traffic department spokesman informed that road no. 1 was opened to traffic in both directions, gradually, after a partial control was gained over the fire.
Tens of teams worked to extinguish the flames, so far the residents of a few houses in Motza were evacuated, and on Shoshana street in Mevasseret Zion. Rescue forces were ready to evacuate other residents in case of need.
Another fire broke out almost in parallel in Kibbutz Maale Hahamisha, and fire teams were alarmed to the scene, and extinguished the flames. The teams worked in order to prevent the fire from reaching living residences close to the fire.
Six extinguishing airplanes were called in to aid with the fires, about 40 teams of fire forces worked on the scene.
At the same time, the local hotel residents in Maale Hahamisha, swimmers in the pool and some of the Kibbutz residents, were evacuated, and the police prepared to evacuate other in case of need.
The fire started spreading towards Mevasseret Zion, and additional fire teams were called in from Natanya, Haifa and Hedera.
Four casualties as a result of smoke inhalation were reported in both fires.
The police major general, Yochanan Danino, made his way to the special headquarters which was set up in Har Hamenuchot. The Jerusalem police informed: "A short while ago, the district general held an assessment of the situation together with fire forces in the Jerusalem city council, and instructed all the forces to continue with quickly extinguishing the fire".
The MDA spokesman, Zachi Heller, informed: "In continuation of the fire events in the Jerusalem area: in an assessment of the situation which the head of MDA held, the level of alertness in the Jerusalem district was raised to level C, which is the highest. Teams of ambulances and I.C. vans of MDA are securing the works of the fire forces, and the residents in the area. At this stage, not injuries were located in the fires, besides treating three slight casualties a result of inhaling smoke at the start of the event, which were treated by MDA teams and did not need further treatment.
"Because of the heavy heat, and in order to help the hundreds of drivers who are stuck on the no. 1 road, the MDA paramedics are driving on motorbikes in between the cars and handing out water bottles, to prevent dehydration and to make sure there is no need for further medical treatment."
It was reported by Ichud Hatzola that tens of paramedics are taking part in securing the large fire forces. The forces are prepared to answer any call of medical case. In addition, the level of alertness of Ichud Hatzola was raised in the Jersualem are, and the in-call paramedics were instructed to listen to their Mirs beepers and to make sure their medical bags are well equipped.
The spokesman of the traffic department informed: "12 ambulances were launched onto the junction, and 24 motorbikes of the traffic department, who are helping the traffic move onto alternative roads, placing an emphasis on road 443 and road 38. The route is free of vehicles, and those vehicles which were abandoned were towed away in order to leave an open route for the rescue forces. The public is asked to refrain from arriving in the area".
The minister of the Internal Defense, Yitzchak Aharonowitz, updated the Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, about the acts which are being done in the area to extinguish the fire. He further informed the Prime Minister that all the airplanes of the fire squadron are taking a central part in putting out the fire.
Yesterday (Tues.) close to 13:00pm , a fire broke in the Lifta Wadi, close to the entrance to Jerusalem, and a few explosions were heard. Damage was caused to caravans in the area.
Jerusalem was covered in smoke and the smell of fire.