Residents call it a miracle, nothing less, explaining fire broke out in a sukka on Fishel Street in Yerushalayim on Friday night, spreading rapidly, engulfing eight sukkot. The occupants of the sukkot fled, and as a result, only three people sustained light injuries Baruch Hashem. According to a Chareidim report, the sukkot were totally destroyed in the blaze.
Residents report the response of the fire department was very quick, and as a result, the fires did not spread to adjacent homes, but there are reports of limited damage to marpesot (balconies) and appliances on those marpesot, such as washing machines.
The cause of the blaze was shabbos candles. Many rabbonim stress that one should refrain from lighting candles in one’s sukka unless one is absolutely certain the situation is safe, and there is no danger posed as a result of the placement of the shabbos candles in the sukka.
(Article written on the first day Chol Hamoed in Eretz Yisrael – Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)
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2 Responses
At my buiilding, in Givat Shaul, a sukkah burned down this morning also, R”L. Their sukkah was also completely destroyed.
As for candles in the sukkah: it is simple and plain halacha that one should light in the sukkah, when possible (ie, if there is no rain or strong wind or small children who might get hurt by it). We lit the shabbos lights in the sukkah, used not too much oil, so that they went out at around 9 PM, 4 hours after lighting them. Me and/or my wife were there at all times – we prepared everything for the seudah in advance, and when I went to shul, my wife stayed in the sukkah. That’s the proper way to do it: never leave a light on without someone (an adult) watching it.
And what happens if the sukkah catches fire when you’re watching it?