Israel On Fire: Flames Threaten Highways to Jerusalem

Jerusalem, 24 November, 2016 (TPS) -- Foreign fire teams, including aircraft, have started arriving  as Israel enters the third day of a wave of brush fires that has swept the country.

Route 443, one of the two main highways leading from the coastal plain to Jerusalem, is closed as of this writing as fire crews battle a new brush fire near the city of Modi’in. In addition, fire crews in the Jerusalem corridor said they have contained the blaze near Neve Ilan, but added that strong winds continue to sweep the flames  in the direction of the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway (Route 1).

Further to the east, a new fire broke out overnight near Kibbutz Har El. 20 fire teams and aircraft are trying to bring the blaze under control.

In the Binyamin region, fire officials said several flash points continue to burn near the Dolev and Salmon communities, but they said the fire is under control. Wednesday night, more than 60 families from Talmon, but all have been permitted to return home. Schools and kindergartens are operating normally.

8:31 Route 443 has opened to traffic.

8:33 Six firefighting aircraft have arrived in Israel from Italy, Greece and Russia to assist local fire crews. The planes will not be operational for firefighting sorties until Friday.

*This is a developing story. TPS will provide additional details as they become available.