Israeli wildfires force evacuations, road closures on Memorial Day

INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Wildfires due to extreme heat and winds broke out near Jerusalem on Wednesday, forcing the evacuation of communities and the closure of a
main highway, as the country was observing Memorial Day and many Israelis visited gravesites. The main Route 1 Jerusalem to Tel Aviv highway
was closed near the fire site and police said three communities had been evacuated. Based on assessments of the fires spread, the district
commander has instructed teams to prepare for the potential evacuation of additional communities, including deploying buses in case they are
needed, the police said in a statement. TV footage showed fires along the highway and people abandoning cars and running from the
fires. Israels Fire and Rescue service said on Tuesday that due to extreme conditions that were increasing the likelihood of fires spreading
and developing, it had prohibited the lighting of bonfires through May 7. Israels 77th Independence Day begins tonight and there is a
widespread custom to build bonfires and have barbecues
The rescue service said barbecues should only be lit in authorised areas. Israeli media reported that 120 fire and rescue services had
mobilised dozens of firefighting teams, aircraft and helicopters to try to contain the fires
They noted that 12 people were injured from smoke inhalation while Israel has asked at least five countries for help Greece, Bulgaria,
Croatia, Italy and Cyprus. The militarys chief of staff said he had ordered Home Front Command, the Air Force and all IDF units to assist as
needed to support the Israeli Police and Fire and Rescue Services. Search and Rescue forces from the IDF Search and Rescue Brigade and Air
Force fire trucks have been assisting in efforts to extinguish the fires in the Jerusalem Hills area and evacuate residents. Sirens sounded
at 0800 GMT on Memorial Day to commemorate fallen soldiers in Israels many wars since becoming a state in 1948. (Reuters) The post Israeli
wildfires force evacuations, road closures on Memorial Day first appeared on TINS News.