2:16PM IL: According to the latest numbers from Magen David Adom and United Hatzalah, forty persons have already been transported to Haifa area hospitals as the fires in the northern city continue raging out of control. Additional victims of the fires have been treated and released by the EMS organizations.

According to all agencies involved, the fires in Haifa are out of control as the IDF is sending two battalions of Homefront Command personnel to assist in firefighting efforts.

There is a growing sentiment that the fires are the result of Arab arson terrorism, but this is just speculation at this stage as the fire service has not had time to rest, yet alone to launch investigations. Senior fire officials have stated however the fires were started in numerous locations, adding to the feeling arson is to blame.

Haifa Mayor Yona Yahav praises the actions of emergency services but admits “we were not ready for something of this magnitude”. He adds the Denya neighborhood has also been evacuated as fire trucks from stations around the country are heading north.

As reported earlier, Israel received ten firefighting planes from neighboring countries including Cyprus, Russia, and Greece.

As this report is closed, we receive confirmation that B’chasdei Hashem, all the injuries are described as light.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)