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On 30 April 2025, a massive forest fire broke out in the Judean Mountains and quickly spread to the Jerusalem area, the Israel Fire and Rescue Service reported. About 119 fire brigades, 10 planes and a helicopter, as well as the Israeli Air Force and Unit 669, are on standby to fight the fire. Due to strong winds, hot weather and changing weather conditions, firefighting is significantly hampered.
This was reported by The Jerusalem Post.
Road closures and evacuations
Due to the threat of the fire spreading, Highway 1 in Jerusalem was closed and the population was urged to avoid the area. People began to abandon their cars on the road, and rescuers pulled nine people out of cars shrouded in thick smoke. Three private cars were reported on fire, but there were no injuries. Police evacuated residents of the nearby settlement of Neve Shalom, and the Memorial Day ceremony at the Latrun memorial had to be stopped.
Fires are also raging in several other areas, including Ashdod, Masuot Yitzhak, Shafira and Kfar Warburg. In Masuot Yitzhak, firefighters and heavy equipment are trying to protect agricultural land and surrounding areas.
Victims and medical care
According to United Hatzalah, more than 30 people received medical treatment for mild to moderate smoke poisoning, most of whom received oxygen support on the spot. Seven people were injured, including a 36-year-old man with burns, a 34-year-old woman and two babies aged about a year, who were exposed to smoke poisoning. Six are in light condition, one is in moderate condition.
International assistance and national mobilisation
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has appealed for help from Greece, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus and Bulgaria, but international support is unlikely to arrive until after dark. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is heading to the disaster zone, and Defence Minister Yisrael Katz has instructed the Israeli Armed Forces (IDF) to assist firefighters as much as possible. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir ordered the use of helicopters to rescue people from Highway 1.
KKL-JNF fire brigades are working to contain the fire to prevent it from spreading to nearby settlements. High levels of air pollution are expected across the country.
Environmental impacts
The fire threatens the 12,000-dunum (4.5 square miles) Esthaol Forest near Beit Shemesh and the Martyrs’ Forest, which is a memorial to the victims of the Holocaust and has six million trees. Only a week ago, a massive fire raged in the same area, destroying some 10,000 dunams of natural forest and open space.
The Fire and Rescue Service and other emergency services in Israel are operating in a state of emergency to bring the situation under control. The government and local authorities are urging citizens to follow instructions and avoid areas affected by the fire. The situation remains critical, and further developments will depend on weather conditions and the speed of response from international partners.
Source: The Jerusalem Post
