Emergency forces continued firefighting operations throughout the night, deploying teams across nine separate sectors in the effort to fully contain the wildfires. Encouragingly, weather conditions have shifted in Israel’s favor: humidity has risen to approximately 80%, significantly slowing the spread of the fire, while winds have weakened considerably.
Thanks to these improvements and ongoing efforts by firefighting units, residents of Mevo Horon have been permitted to return to their homes.
Additionally, all roads that were previously closed due to the fires have now been reopened to traffic.
According to an initial estimate by Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael – Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF), approximately 11,700 dunams (about 2,900 acres) of land were burned throughout the day. This includes forests, nature reserves, and agricultural areas.
Over 100 Firefighting Teams Battle Blazes
More than 100 firefighting teams have been operating since yesterday morning (Wednesday) in the Jerusalem Hills region, working to contain a massive wildfire that broke out in multiple locations and spread as far as the outskirts of Route 1. The blaze initially ignited near Mesilat Zion and continued to spread toward Ramat Beit Shemesh, Canada Park, Neve Shalom, and Mitzpe Harel.
According to updates from Israel’s Fire and Rescue Services, during this difficult 24-hour period, hundreds of firefighters fought against towering flames and complex fire zones. As a result of the intense operations, 17 firefighters were injured and required medical treatment. Three of them are currently hospitalized at Shamir Medical Center.
The IDF is operating in full coordination with the Israel Police and Fire and Rescue Services to support firefighting efforts. Due to the intensity of the flames, Fire and Rescue Commissioner Eyal Kaspi activated the “Red Torch” protocol, the highest alert level, which allows the mobilization of forces from all districts nationwide.
Israel has requested international assistance, and in response, France, Romania, Croatia, Italy, and Spain have announced they will send firefighting aircraft to help suppress the flames.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Gideon Sa’ar posted on his X account: “Israel is fortunate to have true friends who stand by her in times of need. We also thank all those who are offering help”.
Defending Against Arson
Following a joint situational assessment, the National Security Minister and Police Commissioner have ordered widespread police deployment, supported by 14,000 civilian emergency squads. Additionally, Israel Police and its aerial unit will deploy extensive surveillance systems to ensure rapid response to any new arson attempts.
Police reported the arrest of a resident of Umm Tuba for “allegedly attempting to ignite an open field in southern Jerusalem. Officers from the Jerusalem District responded immediately to a report from a civilian who spotted the suspect. Upon seeing the police, he tried to flee but was caught after a short pursuit. A lighter, cotton, and additional incendiary materials were found in his possession. The suspect, in his 50s, was taken in for questioning”.
See footage from the fire, filmed by JNF workers:
