[VIDEO, PHOTOS & EARLIER UPDATES IN EXTENDED ARTICLE]

19:35 IL: Five homes have sustained heavy damage in the fire. Dozens of residents of Kiryat Yovel have been evacuated to a community center in the Malcha neighborhood. The fire in the Ein Kerem area is out of control, now burning for close to five hours. Firefighters on the ground and fire planes continue working as everything possible is being done to prevent the fire spreading to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital.

The fire in the Nataf/Tzipori area is also still burning out of control.

19:15 IL: Hadassah Hospital Ein Kerem officials are now planning evacuation of the major medical center as the fire continues spreading.

19:00 IL: The Nataf fire is burning out of control but it is pointed out that it is forestry land, and at least there is no fear of loss of life.

Dozens of homes have been evacuated in Kiryat Yovel and Ein Kerem as the fire continues to spread to additional homes. Once again, there is fear of gas balloons blowing up from the flames and intense heat. Magen David Adom and Ichud Hatzalah are on high alert. Evacuation is reportedly taking place at Alyn Hospital.

Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital and Shaare Zedek Medical Center are on high alert for incoming injured, especially victims with smoke inhalation and burns chas v’sholom. To date, only five people have been treated, all for light smoke inhalation B’chasdei Hashem.

Hadassah administrators are also aware that if the fire continues to spread there may be need for a partial evacuation.

18:50 IL:  There are now 50 fire units on the ground accompanied by 6 fire planes. The fire is still out of control. A number of homes have been destroyed and there is now a fear that gas balloons outside of homes may explode.

18:47 IL: Fire department officials have called for assistance from many areas throughout the country. Walla News quotes an official saying “this is going to take a long time”.

18:45 IL: Ichud Hatzalah EMT Dvir Adani reports he and other EMS personnel are going from house to house to make sure no one is left behind in the evacuated buildings as the fire continues to spread.

There are reports of “significant damage” to buildings in the Ein Kerem neighborhood.

Ichud’s scene commander, Nachum Bernstein adds “Tens of EMTS from the Jerusalem ambucycle force are on the scene and standing by in the event there are injuries. Magen David Adom has basic and advanced life support ambulances standing by as well.

At present, five people described in good condition were treated for minor smoke inhalation.

The area of the second fire, Nataf/Tzipori, that blaze is reported out of control and homes are being evacuated as well.

18:33 IL: Homes on Bloomfield Street are now part of the fire as the wind continues pushing the blaze towards Yad Vashem.

18:30 IL: The fire continues to spread. The Health Ministry has ordered the evacuation of Alyn Hospital.  In addition, employees of Yad Vashem are being evacuated.

In the second fire, near Sataf, the evacuation of homes is underway as that fire continues to spread.

17:31 IL: Efforts to bring the fire under control continue at this hour. Mayor Nir Barkat is on the scene, he himself a resident of the Ein Kerem neighborhood. Homes on Shmaryahu Levin Street have been damaged by the blaze as it continues moving towards Yad Vashem.

Channel 2 News reports another blaze is beginning to spread in the Nataf area of the Jerusalem corridor.

17:16 IL: As the fire continues to rage out of control, the Israel Electric Company is cutting power to the streets that have been evacuated. Police spokesman Mickey Levy reports via Twitter than additional units are being brought into the area to support firefighters.

17:10 IL: Police advise motorists heading to the capital to use Route 443, the Jerusalem-Modi’in Highway due to the fire in the Ein Kerem Forest.

17:00 IL: A fire that started earlier Wednesday afternoon, 27 Sivan, is raging out of control between the Ein Kerem Forest and Mt. Herzl in Yerushalayim. Police earlier began evacuating some residents of Kiryat Yovel and Ein Kerem.

At this time the fire is described as “widespread and raging out of control” as over 30 firefighting teams are working to bring it under control assisted by six firefighting aircraft.

Police have closed Herzl Blvd. from the Yad Sara Building in the direction of Mount Herzl. Jerusalem light rail service has been halted from the Denya Station. Police add that Bloomfield, Shmaryahu Levin, and Natka Streets are closed. Residents have been evacuated from buildings on these streets as well

Fire officials report their main concern is the fire spreading in the direction of Yad Vashem due to the shift in the wind direction.

Additional updates will follow as information is released.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem/Photos: Ori David, Ichud Hatzalah Spokesman’s Office)