Officials report at least one-third of the Ein Tzuk nature reserve was damaged and/or destroyed in the blaze which is being blamed on the IDF.

According to Yehuda & Shomron Fire Chief Amnon Amir, in statements made to Channel 10 news, illumination flares fired by the military ignited the blaze. In addition, he blames ongoing military activities in the area for impeding the fire department’s response and operational abilities at the scene.

The fire began during the early morning hours and firefighters battled it the entire day, reporting the entire nature reserve area was damaged, including the area closed to the public. Officials are hopeful that the abundance of springs in the area will contribute to its rapid rehabilitation, as was the case following the last major blaze in the area in 1993.

The army admits there was a “malfunction” with one of the illumination devices used by the air force and a firefighting plane was immediately summoned when the situation became apparent.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)