Jerusalem Blaze Leads To Emergency Mobilization, Thousands Evacuated
August 19, 2021
(HD) The massive blaze that erupted in the Jerusalem area on Sunday picked up pace on Monday afternoon after winds picked up speed, forcing the Israel Fire and Rescue Service to mobilize personnel from all over Israel and order the evacuation of another 2,000 people.
Residents of three villages were forced to evacuate on Monday as the fire continued to spread west of Jerusalem, and authorities the fire was approaching a Jerusalem hospital and could force a massive evacuation there as well. First responders were preparing for a rapid evacuation, although no decision was made as of late afternoon Monday.
Three homes were destroyed, the authorities said, in the fire on Monday. This comes less than a day after residents of multiple communities had to evacuate from the Jerusalem area because of the approaching fire.
The fire, which began on Sunday evening, continued to rage overnight and on Monday morning. The hotspots remained active as of Monday morning ultimately became a full-fledged forest fire after winds had picked up on Monday.
The flames have so far eaten away at over 4,200 acres (6.5 square miles), forcing over 10,000 people to evacuate their homes in almost 10 communities west of Jerusalem, including Beit Meir, Ksalon, Ramat Raziel, Shoresh, Sho’eva, and Givat Ye’arim.
On Monday morning firefighters were optimistic that the worst was behind them, having managed to get enough of the blaze under control to eliminate the immediate threat to homes in the area. But several hours later the area was once again ablaze.
On Sunday evening, Defense Minister Benny Gantz ordered the military to assist firefighters in battling the blaze. Home Front Command firefighters and search-and-rescue teams, as well Unit 669, the military’s elite airborne rescue formation, subsequently deployed to the Jerusalem area. By Monday evening, Israeli authorities said they were looking at calling in help from abroad.
The Home Front Command’s situation room was coordinating the joint fire department-police-military effort, the IDF said.
Story by Harbingers Daily.
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