2:20PM IL: Fire officials in consultation with police appear to be preparing to evacuate additional residents as the fire has reached the first homes in the southern area of the Jerusalem neighborhood of Ramot.

It Is also reported that Minheret Arazim Tunnel accessing the Jerusalem Highway from Ramot has been closed as the fire continues to rage out of control.

Regular ground units are fighting the blaze as an ‘all hands’ call out has been issued for additional Fire Service personnel from the Jerusalem and nearby districts. A number of firefighting places are also involved in the effort to bring the blaze under control.

While homes have already been evacuated and the blaze is still ‘out of control’, B’chasdei Hashem there are no reports of inquires at this time.

2:28PM: The fire that has led to the evacuation of some homes in Ramot, as well as the Arazim Tunnels, is now moving towards the Jerusalem corridor, compelling the beginning of the evacuation of some homes located along the outer area of Mevassert Tzion. The blaze is still out of control.

2:33PM: In the Gilo area of the southern capital, two apartment buildings have also been evacuated because of an area forestry fire that is burning out of control.

2:35PM: As a result of the Ramot fire, Israel Electric Company is preparing to cut power to areas of northern Jerusalem and Atarot.

2:50PM: A residence for the disabled in Ramot has been evacuated as the blaze is still burning out of control.

The Mevasseret fire is burning out of control as is the fire in the Gilo area of Jerusalem. There is also a new fire reported now, in the Abu Gosh area. It is unclear if this is a continuation of the forest fire that began in Ramot.

2:56PM: Update from the Jerusalem Fire Service spokesman: Eighteen fire apparatus are battling fires on various fronts in Jerusalem with a focus on preventing the fires from reaching homes. All of the fires reported above are still out of control. In addition, there is a fire in the Har Choma area of the capital.

3:02PM: Jerusalem Fire Chief Eli Peretz reports the high wind gusts are making their job significantly more difficult and he feels “it will take some time” until these fires are declared under control.

3:05PM: B’chasdei Hashem, residents of Mevasseret Tzion who were evacuated from their homes have been informed they may return. Fire Service officials no longer fear the fire will reach homes on that front. Residents on Bareket and Topaz Streets in that community are instructed to remain indoors with windows and doors shut due to heavy smoke conditions.

The Ramot forest fire continues to burn out of control, spreading to Nataf. The fire in Har Choma is burning out of control. Gilo is still out of control.

In addition to fire service ground units and firefighting planes, air force planes are also assisting in bringing the fires in the Jerusalem district under control.

Once again, B”H there are no reports of injuries.

3:12PM: Mevasseret Tzion: From Shoshana Street one can see the smoke conditions are beginning to dissipate and flames are not visible at this time. This will hopefully permit firefighters to concentrate additional manpower at the Ramot fire which is still burning out of control.

It is pointed out that the strong winds may unfortunately lead to complications but for the time being, the Mevasseret fire appears under control.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)