Israel on fire. Fires in Even Sapir, Beit Shemesh and Kiryat Tivon

Season of flames: during the early afternoon hours, close to 12:00am, a fire broke out next to the Even Sapir settlement, an hour later a fire broke out close to Kiryat Tivon, later on yet another fire started in the Beit Shemesh area.

At 12:00am a fire broke out next to Even Sapir. Eight teams of firemen and two airplanes worked to extinguish the three centers of fire by means of foam. An hour later the authorities announced that control has been reached over the fire.

Shortly after 15:00pm, the fire renewed in the Even Sapir area, 15 teams worked with the help of 2 airplanes, and evacuating of residents who live in the western part of the settlement started. An hour later – at 16:30 – Yoram Levi, the spokesman of the fire and rescue commissionership informed that control of the fire has been achieved.
Shortly before 14:00 the fire in the forest between Tivon and Kibbutz Sha'are Ha'amakim renewed, 47 teams of firemen were sent to the place, and two airplanes came to their aid. As a result of the fire, Hashomrim intersection towards Tivon was closed as well as routes to the Ha'amakim intersection.

At 15:50 the evacuation of residents form Carmel, Shoshana and Zvulun streets in Tivon started, as well as the old age home which is located there. Five houses were damaged by the fire, 2 of them badly. Another starting point of the fire in Muchraka started burning again close to 18:00, firemen were sent and the area was divided into two sub-areas.

The Narkisim school on Hanarkisim street in Kiryat Tivon was defined as a gathering point for the purpose of evacuating the population. The deputy chief of police, Major General Israel Yitzchak, made his way to the headquarters which was created there. In addition, the evacuation of the old age home from Rimonim street to an old age home on Hachoresh street was completed.

Road no. 75 was blocked from the direction of Hashomrim intersection towards Ha'amakim intersection. In routes which lead to Tivon heavy loads of traffic were formed from the direction of Gelma intersection and the direction of Ramat Yishai. The drivers were asked not to drive towards the Tivon area. Residents of Tivon who are supposed to return home were asked to obey the instructions of the security forces and not enter streets which were blocked. The public was asked to wait patiently. Only at 19:40 were the residents allowed to return to their homes.

Close to 18:30pm control was achieved over the fire in Kiryat Tivon, teams of fire fighters continued to extinguish the centers of fire until they were completely put out.

Close to 17:00 another fire broke out in the area of the Beit Jimmal Monastery on Road no. 38, close to the industrial zone of Beit Shemesh. Two airplanes with fire deterrent were sent.

Road no. 38 from the Ramat Beit Shemesh intersection to Moshav Zecharia was closed to traffic. Police forces were present.

Shmulik Amsalem, spokesman of the Beit Shemesh fire station, told Behadrei Hareidim that 27 teams with 51 fire fighters, aided by two airplanes were working on the scene. There were no casualties reported.

At 20:30 Shmulik Amsalem related and summarized that control of the fire has been achieved, and that 36 fire extinguishing vehicles, 6 airplanes and 65 fire fighters were active. He further added that 150 dunam were burned, but there were no casualties.

The fire which broke out on Tuesday in Moshav Even Sapir destroyed about 60 dunam of natural forest. The commander of fire fighters and rescue forces in Jerusalem, Shmuel Friedman, related: "We still do not know what caused the fire, but this involves more than one starting point and therefore we are of the opinion that this was intentional arson. At the same time, it could be the negligence of hikers. This is a problematic area, close to the hospital in a dense forest. It is truly hot, but this is not always the cause of fires."

Yesterday, four Palestinians who stayed next to Even Sapir were arrested for investigating their connection to the fire. However the investigation clarified that they had no connection to the incident, and they were released.

Meanwhile, a fire also broke out in a mountainous area of Muchraka, between Ha'amakim and Hatishbi intersections in the eastern Carmel. About 20 teams of fire fighters, 2 airplanes and a police helicopter worked there. Towards the evening, a fire broke out in Tivon, and around 18:00 control was achieved in these two centers of fires in the north.

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