[VIDEO IN EXTENDED ARTICLE]

An alert was declared during the predawn hours in the Southern Hebron Hills area near Negahot.

In line with standard procedure, the military fired illumination flares in the area at about 02:00.

It appears those flares started a fire in empty fields due to the extremely hot and dry conditions.

The fire spread quickly and damaged a number of farm fields, a number of factory buildings and compelling the evacuation of residents from homes in the caravan neighborhood of the community.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem/Photo: Media Resource Group)