Roads blocked, homes evacuated: Large fire rages in Jerusalem hills

June 9, 2021   

A large fire broke out today (Wednesday) in the Jerusalem Mountains area: The fire is spreading on Mount Ruhacha near Neve Ilan. Another fire broke out on Mount Eitan, and the fire is approaching the house lines in the communities of Yad Hasmona and Abu Ghosh. Dozens of firefighting teams have been dispatched to the scene. In addition, six firefighting aircraft are assisting in handling the incident and six more have been dispatched. Police forces are evacuating residents in the Ma'ale Ha-Hachamisha community and are preparing to evacuate residents in Abu Ghosh. A joint fire brigade was established at the scene, headed by the Jerusalem District Commander, Superintendent Doron Turgeman, with the participation of the fire brigade and all parties involved in handling the fire. In addition, the police blocked Highway 425 towards Nataf in both directions and the Mount Adar-Ma'ale Ha-Hachamisha road in both directions. The entrances to the Hemed interchange on Highway 1 were blocked in both directions following a fire in the Nataf forest. Later, the entrances to the Hemed Interchange were opened in both directions, but the entrances to Neve Ilan, in both directions, are blocked to traffic. Israel Police officers are on site and directing traffic. Israel Railways reported that due to a fire near the tracks in the Shaar Hagai area, train traffic between Ben Gurion Airport and Jerusalem Yitzhak Navon stations was stopped at the direction of the fire department, and for the time being, trains on the Herzliya-Jerusalem Yitzhak Navon line will begin and end their journey at Ben Gurion Airport station. Following the large fire in the Ma'ale Ha-Hachamisha area, Highway No. 1 and the Arazim Tunnel from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv were blocked to traffic. Later, Highway No. 1 and the Arazim Tunnel at the exit from Jerusalem towards Tel Aviv were opened to traffic.