The firefighting effort continues, with firefighting aircraft dumping water and flame retardant chemicals on the Carmel hills.
Over six hours ago, fire officials expressed cautious optimism, stating that “We find ourselves in the best situation since the fire started.” One official has estimated that the fire will be contained by this evening, but stressed that the firefighting activity would likely continue for several more days. Even Russia’s Deputy Civil Defense, Emergency and Disaster Relief Minister said he believes firefighters will contain the fire within hours, and well all know how Russians are known for their optimism (!)
This, after fears that the situation could take a negative turn overnight were thankfully not met. In fact, during the night, firefighters managed to partially contain the blaze near the Hai Bar animal and nature reserve and at a garbage site in the Druze village of Usfiya.
Nevertheless, winds are intensifying, and the fire is still raging in four areas: Har Shokef, Nir Etzion, the Carmel Hai-Bar Nature Reserve, and Isfiya. Authorities are closely monitoring wind directions and are preparing for the possibility that the fire will spread to additional locations, with buses being moved into to positions that will allow for additional evacuations.
In other news, the Interior Minister is trying to deflect the blame for our unpreparedness to a man in a coma, the Prime Minister has called the foreign aid “heartwarming” (not the best choice of words in the circumstances), and Israel has warmed up (to) Turkey after the latter’s assistance these past few days
As usual, you can check back here for updates.
Updates
6:20PM: The fire has been contained after 77 hours.
10:45AM: Was it terrorism after all? Via Liveleak:
Ihab Salim-Sandviken-Sweden-Iraqi News Agency INA:
Organization “Moasdat Mujahideen in Palestine,” which is one of the branches of al-Qaeda, in adopted in a statement Saturday, the responsibility for the fires that broke out in Mount Caramel on Thursday, according to the statement.
The statement added, saying:”went lions of Moasdat Mujahideen in Palestine yesterday Thursday 26,1431 More..Friday, in the operation of heroes and new in the house of rapists on Mount Caramel that the position of rapists occupied it, they burned part of the forest, which led to the deaths of more than forty rapist and left dozens wounded according to the recognition by the enemy himself ” according to the statement.
The statement said: ” it was God’s Soldiers wind help to your brothers in the attack,fire spread to what we did not plan, our enemy has been unable to control it, the enemy was compelled to appealed many of the foreign troops for help him in extinguishing the fire which God has kindled in their hearts before their bodies,gratitude be to Allah,and the process of revenge to the martyr Mohammed Alnmnm and brothers of Islam and Mohammed Yasin and other in Palestine “according to the statement.
The statement concluded that they will destroyed the ugly Jewish occupation and the release of Palestinian prisoners and all Muslim prisoners , according to the statement.
