Massive fire sends dark cloud over Jerusalem, engulfs nearby communities

A huge wildfire spread near Jerusalem on Sunday burning down hundreds of dunams of forest and endangering nearby communities. High temperatures and strong winds helped the fire spread fast to the west of the capital.

“This may be the biggest fire in the last few years in the Jerusalem hills,” said the Jerusalem District Fire Commander, Nissim Twito.

“Everything is black, there is no green,” a resident of Shoeva near Route 1 told Walla. “It’s heartbreaking.”

Twelve aircraft dropped fire retardant from the air to stop the fire spreading together with firefighters on the ground.

The fire reached the outskirts of the Eitanim Medical Center, a psychiatric facility in the Jerusalem Hills and all the patients were evacuated, Kan Radio said.

Israeli Police have released the names of two individuals who are missing as a result of the wildfires. The first is Alex Schechtman (62), a resident of Elon Moreh. The second is Shabtai Shimon Siegel (25), a resident of Ma’ale Adumim.

Public Security Minister Omer Bar Lev said three people from the hospital went missing but two were soon found. One remained missing, although his life was not thought to be in danger.

More than 2,000 residents of Beit Meir, Kesalon, Ramat Raziel and Givat Ye’arim were evacuated as flames reached some homes although some residents from Ramat Raziel and Givat Ye’arim were later allowed to return home.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett told security forces that if they were in doubt about whether evacuation is necessary, it should be done without question.

Fire Department spokesman Dedi Simhi said on Sunday night that “the fire was 100% caused by people.” However, he stated that was still unclear whether this was done deliberately or by accident. “We don’t know yet,” he said, and added that “first we will get the fire out then tomorrow we’ll start our investigation.”

Itzik Shmuli, a former minister who was among those evacuated, took to Twitter to share his experience, talking about what to take with when you have five minutes to pack up the most important things.

“It’s at a horrifying moment like this, when a great fire is threatening to destroy and burn the center of your life that you learn to appreciate all the more and hold tight to what you have managed to pack in five minutes: your partner and two wonderful children, three cats and some emotional souvenirs from an entire life,” he wrote.

“Thank you to our firefighters who have been fighting this fire for a few hours, may we get through this safely,” he added.

Some people were treated for smoke inhalation but were not hospitalized.

Twelve firefighting planes were working in an attempt to stop the spread together with firefighters on the ground.

One firefighter fell and injured his limbs. He was taken by United Hatzollah to hospital.

Bennett cut short a Security Cabinet meeting for consultations on the fire and afterwards he convened senior officials including Defense Minister Benny Gantz, Public Security Minister Omer Bar Lev, Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked, the chief of police and of fire and rescue services.

Gantz ordered the IDF to assist with the firefighting efforts. The Homefront Command’s national operations room was activated to coordinate forces.

Extinguishing efforts are expected to continue into the night and throughout Monday.