LIVE UPDATES: Jerusalem Wildfire Still Out of Control

A raging forest fire in the Eshtaol Forest near Beit Shemesh prompted the evacuation of the Neve Shalom community and the intermittent closure of Highway 38 this morning, as strong winds encouraged the blaze’s rapid spread.

The fire, which reignited in the Mesilat Zion area early Wednesday, forced authorities to close Highway 38 to traffic as flames threatened nearby communities. Fire officials reported that powerful winds were driving the fire’s swift expansion, complicating containment efforts. Teams from Beit Shemesh and the Jerusalem district, backed by firefighting planes, were mobilized to the scene, with additional ground and air forces en route to prevent the blaze from reaching other residential areas.

At 10:39 AM, police ordered the evacuation of Neve Shalom, a cooperative village near the fire zone, as a precautionary measure. Residents were urged to comply with safety directives and avoid the area. Videos circulating on social media showed thick smoke billowing over the forest and firefighters battling intense flames.

The blaze follows a destructive wildfire in the same region last week (April 23), which charred 2,500 acres and forced evacuations in Eshtaol, Beit Meir, and Mesilat Zion. The Jewish National Fund warned that ecological recovery from such fires could take decades. While the cause of the latest fire remains under investigation, past incidents in the area have raised concerns about possible arson.

Firefighting operations are ongoing as crews work to protect lives and property under challenging conditions. Authorities have called on the public to stay vigilant and report any signs of fire in the region.

Israel Nature and Parks Authority Update

Due to the wildfire flaring up again in the Judean Hills National Park area, park authority teams are evacuating hikers from the Mahal parking lot on the Eastern Burma Road, the Dekel lookout in the Harel Hills, and the Kefira, Masrek, Nahal Sorek, and Dolev nature reserves.

If you’re hiking in these areas or the Judean Hills National Park, please leave immediately.

The Sha’ar HaGai Khan heritage site is also closed to visitors.

Keep checking updates from the Israel Police and Fire and Rescue Services about road closures.

12:15pm: Israel Fire and Rescue Services provided the follwing situation report:

"There are 5 active fire fronts: Highway 3, Canada Park, Neve Shalom, Mesilat Zion, and Mitzpe Harel.

The main fire is concentrated in the Neve Shalom area.

The communities of Neve Shalom, Tekoa, Taoz, Nahshon, and Mesilat Zion have been evacuated.

Ceremonies at the Latrun Monument and the monastery have been cleared of people.

63 firefighting teams, 11 firefighting planes, and 2 helicopters, assisted by firefighting ATVs, are operating in the area.

Highway 3 is closed to traffic – please follow the instructions of the forces on the ground.

A staging area and command post have been established at Latrun.

A general mobilization has been declared in the Jerusalem district, with extensive inter-district support.

Israel Fire and Rescue Commissioner Chief Superintendent Eyal Caspi is closely monitoring the events.

We urge the public to comply with security and rescue forces, stay away from the fire zone, and remain vigilant. In case of smoke, call 102 to reach the firefighters."

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir is on his way to the emergency forces' command post in Latrun, as reported by Liran Tamari.

12:34pm: There are currently 63 firefighting teams, 11 planes, and 2 helicopters operating in the area.

13:05pm “I urgently request that the public not come to the area” – A call from the field

Report from JNF-KKL employees and foresters:

Firefighting forces from JNF-KKL, Israel Fire and Rescue Services, and firefighting aircraft are on the scene in Eshtaol Forest, working to contain the fire’s spread toward nearby communities.

To manage the incident and prevent injuries, a command post has been established in the Eshtaol area to oversee and coordinate the firefighting efforts. JNF-KKL employees are deployed across the area between Eshtaol Forest and Latrun to combat the fire, which is being exacerbated by strong winds that increase the risk level.

Anat Gold, Director of the Central Region at JNF-KKL asks: "To ensure public safety and allow emergency forces to operate without interference, the public and hikers are urgently requested to avoid coming to the area. Please respect the instructions and follow updates that will be published later."

13:10pm

The wildfire that broke out this morning in the Jerusalem area is spreading rapidly again and has now reached a row of houses in the city of Ramat Beit Shemesh (B).

13:17pm: Beit Shemesh Begins Evacuating Homes

At this stage, four buildings have already been evacuated

13:43pm

The Police Spokesperson provided this traffic update:

"Highway 1, from Sha’ar HaGai to Anava, has been closed to vehicle traffic. Heavy traffic congestion is reported in the area.

We ask the public not to come to the area, to choose alternative routes, and to allow rescue forces to carry out their work."

13:57

Firefighters do not have the situation under control.

Police units from Lod, Ramla, Rishon LeZion, Rehovot, Petah Tikva, the Netbag region, and other stations across the Shfela region are being redirected from non-life-threatening routine activities to assist in evacuating passengers from Highway 1 back to the Shfela area.

Three cars and a truck are alight: thankfully, there are no drivers trapped inside.

2:00pm

During the firefighting and rescue operations at the scene of a fire on Highway 1, nine individuals were rescued from vehicles trapped in heavy smoke. Several people with minor injuries from smoke inhalation are currently being treated by medical teams at the scene.

Police Spokesperson:

Due to the fire incidents, Israel Police Commissioner Danny Levy was forced to leave the state memorial ceremony for victims of hostile actions and is en route to the command post.

2:46 PM:

Numerous crews and heavy equipment are in the area, including efforts to open the median on Highway 1 to allow vehicles to turn around.

MDA said: We took four injured people to Shamir Assaf Harofeh Hospital, including a 36-year-old man with burns, a 34-year-old woman, and two infants approximately one year old, all with smoke inhalation injuries.

15:08:

The Chief of Staff instructed the Home Front Command, the Air Force, and all IDF units to provide full assistance to the Israel Police and Fire and Rescue Services in addressing the wildfire.

Rescue forces from the Rescue Brigade, the Jerusalem and Central District, along with Home Front Command firefighting teams, Air Force ground firefighting crews and fire trucks, and aircraft providing aerial imagery, have been assisting during the last few hours, battling to extinguish the wildfires in the Jerusalem Hills region and helping to evacuate residents.

All forces are operating in coordination with the Israel Police and Fire and Rescue Services.

Israel has also reached out to neighboring countries to provide firefighting support. As a result, Greece, Croatia, Italy, and Cyprus have promised to send firefighting planes soon.

15:18

MDA spokesperson said:

MDA paramedics and medics are providing medical treatment and evacuating seven lightly injured individuals to Shamir Assaf Harofeh and Kaplan hospitals. Among them are a 36-year-old man with burns and six others, aged 30, 20, and one year old, with smoke inhalation injuries. Further updates to follow.

15:30

South District Wildfire Status Update

Shafir: A large fire that advanced to the residential line has been fully contained by firefighters, and crews have completed their operations at the site.

Kfar Warburg: An extensive brush fire that spread toward residential homes and orchards. Seven bulldozers and firefighting crews worked together. The fire has been contained, but firefighting and containment line maintenance operations are still ongoing.

Amatzia: A forest fire with multiple active fronts. Challenging weather conditions are complicating firefighters' efforts.

Angels’ Forest: A fire developing on two fronts. Crews from the South District are operating at the scene in collaboration with KKL-JNF. Israel Police have closed the forest and evacuated visitors from the area.

The public is requested to avoid approaching fire zones, follow the instructions of emergency forces, and refrain from staying in open areas during this time.

15:40

Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center is preparing to treat victims and support firefighting and rescue teams. It's also keeping its hyperbaric chamber on standby for smoke inhalation cases.

Firefighting officials report that the fire is not currently nearing the hospital. However, the medical center is closely following the situation, staying in constant contact with police and fire and rescue services, and is prepared to respond as needed.

16:05

Israel Fire and Rescue Service: The Fire Service is primarily working at five wildfire hotspots: Neve Shalom, Latrun Interchange, Latrun, Mesilat Zion, and Canada Park.

Two main sectors:

16:07

Statement from the Israel Fire and Rescue Service and the Office of the Minister of National Security:

Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir and Fire and Rescue Commissioner Eyal Caspi have made the call to cancel all events tonight that need firefighters on site. This is to make sure our firefighting teams can focus on battling the wildfires, send more support to the Jerusalem area, and get ready for worse weather, as the forecasts are predicting.

16:12

Update from Israel Roads (Netivei Israel):

Road Closures Due to Wildfires:

16:33

What's happening with the Air Force?

17:07

IDF Spokesperson:

As part of the IDF’s efforts to assist in extinguishing the wildfires in the Jerusalem area, the Technology and Logistics Directorate has provided water tankers for the crews operating in the region, as well as engineering equipment. All IDF forces are working to rescue and assist civilians in the area.

Forces from Unit 669 are scanning the fire zone and are on standby to rescue trapped individuals and provide medical treatment.

All forces are operating in coordination with the Israel Police and Fire and Rescue Services.

17:06pm

IDF Spokesperson:

As part of the IDF’s efforts to assist in extinguishing the wildfires in the Jerusalem area, the Technology and Logistics Directorate has provided water tankers for the crews operating in the region, as well as engineering equipment. All IDF forces are working to rescue and assist civilians in the area.

Forces from Unit 669 are scanning the fire zone and are on standby to rescue trapped individuals and provide medical treatment.

All forces are operating in coordination with the Israel Police and Fire and Rescue Services.

17:10pm

Itai Blumental:

Despite preparations for extreme, dry weather, including an unusual order from the Chief Fire Commissioner, the Air Force’s Hercules aircraft were not pre-prepared for firefighting. Sources familiar with the matter tell us that shortly after the wildfires broke out in the Beit Shemesh and Jerusalem Hills areas, the Air Force contacted the Fire Service. However, the Fire Service’s command center requested that the deployment of Hercules aircraft be delayed until nighttime.

In the 103rd “Elephants” Squadron, personnel contacted the IDF Operations Directorate and the Air Force Commander, who ordered the immediate installation of firefighting kits on two Hercules aircraft and the preparation of dozens of additional containers of fire-retardant materials.

The first Hercules aircraft is expected to begin operations within about an hour.

17:15

IDF trucks are preparing to enter communities and evacuate people from the wildfires in the Jerusalem Hills.

19:21 The fires have reached Petach Tikvah.