On Sunday, several houses in villages on the outskirts of Jerusalem were evacuated due to a massive fire that broke out in forested areas, according to a statement from the police. Dozens of firefighters are trying to extinguish the flames with the assistance of firefighting aircraft, and smoke was visible from various locations in Jerusalem. Helicopters from the Israeli Air Force participated in the firefighting operations.
A spokesperson for the firefighting service in Jerusalem stated, "The fire is spreading quickly due to strong winds, and we have called in firefighters from various areas to assist us." The head of the firefighting service in the region, Nasim Twito, said during a televised press conference, "This is one of the largest fires in the Jerusalem area in years."
As the flames approached, five villages located west of Jerusalem—Beit Meir, Shu'afat, Kisalun, Givat Ye'arim, and Ramat Raziel—were evacuated, and the residents were displaced according to police announcements, which also mentioned the closure of several roads.
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett held a meeting with security officials dedicated to the fire, according to a statement from his office. The official Arabic account of the Israeli Prime Minister on Twitter stated that Bennett instructed the Ministry of Defense and the military to assist "the firefighting and emergency forces as needed and without restrictions."
Isaac Ravitz, the mayor of Kiryat Ye'arim, neighboring these villages, stated to the official radio that his town "has opened its doors... to all families in need of protection." A fire had erupted in this very town just ten days prior but was extinguished quickly. The causes of the fire are still unknown, and it is noted that Israel experiences several fires during the summer due to high temperatures.
In recent weeks, several fires have occurred in the Mediterranean basin, particularly in Greece, Turkey, and Algeria, where dozens have died due to forest fires since Monday.
