Fires: JNF report 2750 acres destroyed
Fires spreading since last week have destroyed an estimate of 11,000 Dunams (about 2,750 Acres, with four Dunams = 1 Acre) of natural forests and rural areas around Israel, with 58 occurrences in KKL-JNF areas.
Many KKL-NF Firefighting crews are combating the flames day and night to minimize the spread into populated areas.
KKL-JNF
KKL-JNF declared a general mobilization of firefighting crews. KKL-JNF Foresters and fire crews (totaling in over 300) and 25 fire trucks, have been working alongside the Israel Fire and Rescue Services, to extinguish fires and to separate between organic flammable material and ongoing fires, thus creating buffer zones to contain expansion of fires to forests and open areas.
KKL-JNF hosts families evacuated due to the fires
In response to the fires, the KKL-JNF Field and Forest Center in Nes Harim opened its doors to families and residents who were evacuated from their homes. The field center is located in the Jerusalem Mountains and offers emergency housing in its guestrooms, which can host families of up to six who were affected by the fires raging in Israel.
KKL-JNF
The Field and Forest Center offers rooms with beds, hot showers, a cafeteria where meals are provided, activities for children with top counselors, and a bit of reprieve in a supportive atmosphere. The site is fenced in and guarded.
According to KKL-JNF World Chairman Danny Atar, “as part of our commitment to the Jewish people and to the citizens of Israel, we are providing, immediately and with no time limit, living units for families who were forced to evacuate their homes due to fire. KKL-JNF foresters and firefighters are working around the clock to help stop the flames and save Israel’s forests. At the same time, we are using all our resources to help those who were adversely affected by the fires. Opening the field and forest center is the first stage.”
Main forest fire locations:
In the forests of Northern Israel, about 250 acres were burnt in 39 forest fires.
Lower Galilee and the Gilboa: Kfar Hahoresh Forest, Tzippori Forest, Beit Keshet, Balfour, Tabor and the slopes of Nazareth.
Western Galilee and the Carmel: Alkoush Forest, Ma’alot Yehiam, Ahihud, Gilon, Yuvalim, Shfaram, Kiryat Ata, Segev, Carmel Coast, Alonim and Nir Etzion.
Menashe and Sharon Regions: 350 acres went up in fires in Ein Hashofet-Hazorea Forest, Hadera Forest, Metzar Forest, Mishmar Ha’emek, Iron, Meggido, Binyamin and Umm el Fahem.
Lower Coastal Plain: About 175 acres were burnt, including the big fire at Eshtaol, where 125 acres of forest went up in flames. In addition, there were fires at Neve Shalom, Harel and Ayalon-Canada Park. There were also a number of fires at Modi’in Forest, Ben Shemen Forest, Shoham Forest and Koah Forest.
The huge fire in the Jerusalem mountains consumed a total of 5,000 acres, including about 1,800 acres of KKL-JNF forest. This fire is considered the largest forest fire in Israel since the 2010 Carmel fire.
In the south, there were a small number of fires in Lahav and Devira forests.
The modern firefighting vehicles, which were purchased with the support of friends of KKL-JNF worldwide, can traverse tough terrains and thick forests. KKL-JNF also operates a forest fire risk forecast service as well as participating in the management of an aerial firefighting fund and forest fires investigations, along with the implementation of conclusions arrived at from past experience.
Bethey bush fires here in Australia or overseas I wish square miles or square kilometers would be use to describe the area of large fire. Thousands of acres is confusing and meaningless to most.