JERUSALEM, July 18 (NNN-MA’AN) – A wave of brush fires across Israel, caused by extremely hot and dry weather, burned down homes and vehicles, and sent dozens to hospitals, on Wednesday.
At least 124 people were treated in hospitals, according to the service’s director-general, Eli Bin.
Bin said that, most of the individuals were treated for mild injuries, due to smoke inhalation, heat strokes, dehydration, or fainting. One eight-year-old boy from the Bedouin town of Rahat, in southern Israel, was evacuated to hospital in a critical condition, due to heat stroke.
Hundreds of homes across the country were evacuated due to the fires and several roads and highways were also closed due to the blazes.
In Jerusalem, a fire broke out outside the Malha Technology Park, a high-tech industrial compound. The fire, which started in a parking lot near the compound, consumed about ten cars before firefighters managed to subdue the flames, a spokesman with the Fire and Rescue Services said, in a statement.
“Hundreds” of families were evacuated in Arara, an Arab town in northern Israel, and additional 119 families were evacuated in the northern community of Katzir, the spokesman said.
A big brush fire broke out in the central city of Or Yehuda, burning to ground at least eight homes and injuring one 64-year-old man.
Fire in the West Bank settlement of Shavei Shomron, caused damage to several homes, infrastructure, and a commercial building, local media reported.– NNN-MA’AN
