15:49 IL: A major brush fire is burning out of control in Haifa’s N’vei Sha’anan neighborhood compelling police to begin evacuating residents of a number of streets in the community.

Police have halted vehicular traffic on Solomon, Chazon Yaakov and Nativ Chen Streets as 14 fire apparatus assisted by 5 firefighting planes are working to bring the blaze under control.

16:06 IL: The blaze in Haifa’s N’vei Sha’anan neighborhood is still not under control. Police continue evacuating area residents, instructing others to place wet towels at the bottom of closed doors to prevent the acrid smoke from entering.

Chadrei Chareidim reports that among the buildings evacuated was is the Belzer Yeshiva which is situated close to the blaze. A number of the bochurim are assisting firefighters in any way they can.

Baruch Hashem there are no reports of injuries.

16:25: The blaze has been declared under control.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)