[PHOTOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE]

As soon as the scale of the Haifa bushfires became apparent, ZAKA decided to send volunteers from its special units to aid in the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents in the path of the fire. Within an hour, over forty ZAKA jeeps and dozens of volunteers were in the city and ZAKA Special Units commander Chaim Outmezgine began directing the ZAKA volunteer effort, from a swiftly-erected operations room in the field.

The ZAKA hotline received dozens of calls for help in evacuating and assisting local residents. When this task was completed, the volunteers then gave back-up support to the firefighting crews, identifying and dousing areas with water to ensure that the flames would not reignite in the fierce winds.

During his visit to the area, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu met ZAKA Chairman Yehuda Meshi-Zahav in the field and asked him to pass on his gratitude and appreciation to the ZAKA volunteers.

ZAKA Special Units commander Caim Outmezgine: “It was a miracle that no-one was seriously hurt. Entire streets were in flames. The residents managed to escape before the flames took hold. During the course of the day, the ZAKA operations room received dozens of calls from residents asking for help and we were able to offer a swift response. Later in the day, we received a call for help about an elderly couple who lived in the worst-hit area but had not made contact. Our volunteers immediately went to their apartment building and were able to evacuate them to safe ground.”

ZAKA Chairman Yehuda Meshi-Zahav: “Sadly, we have strong memories of the Carmel Forest fire. We took the decision to send in our special units to assist in the immediate evacuation of the residents in order to prevent a similar tragedy. The emergency and firefighting forces are working with the utmost professionalism.”

ZAKA has set up a fund for those wishing to donate.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem/Photo Credit: Roi Levi)