Firefighters were still battling fires at six locations on Thursday at midday, but a Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said all evacuated residents can now return to their homes.

Winds had weakened, and weather conditions on Thursday were in favor of the firefighters. However, powerful winds are forecast to resume from 4 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., raising the risk of a resurgence of fires.

A Fire and Rescue Authority spokesperson said early Thursday morning that the wildfires that began in the Jerusalem hills on Wednesday are not yet under control after 163 firefighting teams battled the flames overnight. Firefighters were still battling flames at 11 locations on the outskirts of Jerusalem and seven yishuvim were still evacuated of their residents.

“Over 150 firefighting teams are still working at full capacity in all the fire hotspots in the Judean Plain area,” a spokesperson said. About 23 firefighting teams are operating in the Beit Meir and Shoresh area, and 10 firefighting planes are assisting the forces in the field.

The police announced on Thursday morning that Highway 1 and all other blocked highways have been reopened to traffic, including Highways 3 and 38. Overnight,  over 100 abandoned vehicles from Highway 1 were towed to the Latrun parking lot, after drivers were forced to abandon their cars on Wednesday and flee for their lives, including mothers holding babies in their arms.

The Fire and Rescue Services announced that lighting fires in open areas is forbidden throughout the country, except in designated places. Israel Police announced that a ban on lighting fires and barbecues in public areas will be enforced throughout Yom Ha’atzmaut.

Planes from foreign countries, including Greece, Croatia, Romania, France, Spain and Italy, are expected to arrive on Thursday afternoon.

About 10,000 residents were evacuated due to the massive fires from the yishuvim of Eshtaol, Mesilat Tzion, Beit Meir, Neve Shalom, Nachshon, Mevo Horon, Shoresh, Yad Hashmona, Neve Ilan and Nataf. The residents of Eshtaol, Neve Shalom and Nachshon and Mevo Choron have been allowed to return to their homes.

The fire caused immense damage to the forests in the area, and Canada Park was severely damaged. According to an initial assessment yesterday by the KKL, about 20,000 dunams were burned yesterday in the fires in the Jerusalem hills.

“This is an event of unprecedented magnitude,” said Anat Gold, director of KKL’s central region. “This is one of the largest fires in the country,” she added, noting that half of the areas that caught fire are forested areas, including Canada Park and Eshtaol Forest.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)