Israel News Network Group
Israel’s Fire and rescue forces are continuing to battle the ongoing forest fire in the Eshtaol area, in a mountainous, complex terrain with limited accessibility.
Mate Yehuda police assisted by forces from the Jerusalem District have evacuated the population of Beit Meir, Eshtaol, Mesilat Zion and Khan Sha’ar Hagai, with evacuees transferred to Tza’ara and Beit Nekofa.
The fire is active in three main locations and is spreading due to the winds, near the communities of Tarom, Taoz, Mesilat Zion, and Khan Sha’ar Hagai, according to a spokesperson for the Fire and Rescue Service.
More than 110 firefighting teams and volunteers from all districts are operating in the area, along with eight firefighting aircraft, a firefighting helicopter, a Lehava unit, JNF teams, and other aid agencies. At least 20 “fire chariot” ATVs with rapid fire extinguishing kits are on their way to the scene, firefighters said.
Highways 44 and 38 were closed to vehicle traffic, and the public has been asked to obey the instructions of the security and rescue forces on the ground.
Forces are scanning the surrounding areas in the sector to locate travelers and remove them.
KKL-JNF workers and foresters report that hundreds of dunams of forest areas have burned in the Tzora and Eshtaol forests.
“Due to the fires in the Judean Mountains National Park, the Stalactite Cave Nature Reserve has been closed, and all visitors to the site have been safely evacuated,” a spokesperson for the Israel Nature and Parks Authority added.
“An orderly evacuation of visitors to Ein Hemed National Park has begun and the site will be closed. The public is asked not to visit these sites.”
