Firefighters Battle Over 190 Blazes During Extreme Israeli Heatwave

Jerusalem, 17 May, 2025 (TPS-IL) — Israel Fire and Rescue Services battled more than 190 fires across the country over Saturday during one of the most extreme heatwaves in recent years.

Firefighting teams, supported by aircraft, contained several significant blazes primarily in the Northern District, including fires in Rama, Ramat HaShofet, and Shfaram, where four people suffered minor smoke inhalation injuries and storage facilities were damaged.

Additionally, authorities responded to a suspected arson incident in Ben Shemen Forest with 11 firefighting teams working across three hotspots.