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The fires in Haifa continue burning out of control as exhausted firefighters continue working 12-hours shifts, hoping to being to see progress. Due to heavy wind gusts as high as 100 KPH (60 MPH), not only are firefighters not making progress, but the flames continue spreading as sunset approaches, about an hour away.

One firefighting plane has arrived from Cyprus and has already joined the effort. Planes will be arriving later from Russia, and Italy’s planes are expected on Friday morning. Turkey is sending a number of planes, with the first expected to arrive later Thursday night.

Three planes have arrived from Greece and it is reported they have their own operational methodology and have asked to be assigned an area and they are working the area exclusively, with planes dropping 18 tons of water in five minutes. The planes refill in the Mediterranean or Haifa Bay.

Channel 2 reports the Shin Bet has confirmed it is involved in the probe amid a growing sentiment that Palestinian arson terror is behind the fires that have plagued Israel in recent days.

Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated from their homes. Haifa has allocated the city’s convention center and another venue to receive the homeless. The National Kibbutz Movement has opened its doors, sending out an alert to kibbutzim to open their doors for those who will need a temporary place, possibly for Shabbos. United Hatzalah has sent out a notice to its 3,000 volunteers, announcing numbers to arrange to take people in for Shabbos, for those willing and able. Even as far as the Jerusalem neighborhood of Nachlaot, as the Lev Ha’ir community council is calling on residents to assist the homeless.

Israel Police, MDA, United Hatzalah, and Israel Electric Company have declared a state of emergency in the Haifa region. Israel Electric was compelled to cut power to many areas, and this too will complicate matters as the sun sets.

According to forecasters, the heavy winds will continue through Shabbos, adding to the concerns of firefighters. Just minutes ago it was believed the fire was under control in the Almogi neighborhood of Haifa but a strong gust of wind just moved in and proved them wrong.

Twenty-two ambulances were assigned to take part in the evacuation of the Filman Geriatric Home, as many patients are on life support. MDA has brought in over 100 of its people to work with the facility to get the patients to safety in the Haifa district. That is still ongoing at this hour.

Over 65 people have been treated in the Haifa district and B’chasdei Hashem, with the exception of one person in moderate condition, the remainder is listed in light condition, most treated for smoke inhalation and about 40 transported to area hospitals. B’chasdei Hashem there has not been loss of life blei ayin hara.

The IDF Homefront Command is also involved, sending two battalions of reservists to assist efforts in the north. Fire trucks from around the country are being deployed to the Haifa district when possible and all leaves have been canceled and all fire service personnel were called to the north, for those who can come.

In the Shomron, a pursuit was reported a short time ago for an Arab seen trying to start a fire near Yishuv Har Bracha.

In the Shar Haggai area, the fire is moving in rapidly towards a gas station, a Jerusalem Fire Service spokesman reports.

The Israel Prison Authority is in the process of evacuating a prison in the Haifa district. 150 members of the IPA will take part in moving 600 prisoners out of the area.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)