The hot dry head that was Wednesday’s weather did not simplify matters for northern area firefighters, who were compelled to bring dozens of fires under control. It was first believed the fires were the result of the hot dry conditions, but officials later in the day announced the fires were arson, terror in another form.

Residents in homes near Rosh HaNikra were compelled to evacuate their northern border communities for fear the fires that were raging out of control would spread. The same was true in other areas including Tzfas, where power outages were reported as a result of damaged power lines. At one point, the multiple fires in the predominately Israeli Arab Nachal I’ron (Wadi Ara) area compelled the closure of Highway 65, the main north-south road accessing Tiveria, Tzfas and the Golan Heights areas.

It was a long hot day for firefighters, but Baruch Hashem, at the end, they did bring the situation under control, residents returned to their homes and roads were reopened. Unfortunately, the over 300 acres of natural forestry that was destroyed will take a long time to restore itself.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)