5 injured in Maasiyahu Prison fire
Series of fires break out in central Israel due to heat, Lag B'Omer holiday; firefighters still struggling in Karmei Yosef
Israel on Sunday was battling a series of brushfires caused by the combination of hot, dry weather and the Lag B'Omer holiday, in which revelers traditionally celebrate with bonfires.
One of the fires broke out in a wood factory in Maasiyahu Prison in central Israel. One person was moderately injured and four others were lightly hurt from smoke inhalation. Seven guards, one prisoner and three firefighters were injured in the blaze and were evacuated to Assaf Harofeh Medical Center.
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Firefighters have managed to control the flames at the Maasiyahu Prison.
Firefighters were called to put out a blaze that broke out in an open area near the Hadassim boarding school in central Israel late in the afternoon. The heavy smoked caused the school to evacuate its staff and students. The fire has since been doused.
Meanwhile, two more fires broke out in the south, one in Nitzan near Ashkelon, and in Ashdod. Firefighters arrived at the scene.
Fire in Maasiyahu Prison (Photo: Yaron Brenner)
A short while earlier a large fire broke out near Karmei Yosef in the Shfela region, leading to the evacuation of several houses.
Fire raged around Moshav Yad Rambam in central Israel as well. Large teams fought the fire with the aid of firefighting aircraft. Residents were evacuated.
A large brushfire also broke out near Ramat Poleg in Netanya. Four firefighting crews are attempting to quell the fire, which threatens nearby buildings.
Firefighting crews in the Lachish district have successfully extinguished six separate bruchfires.
In Rosh Ha'Ayin crews have nearly extinguished a fire inside a building which housed a spare parts business.
The fire broke out on Saturday, but some fires inside the building were impossible to reach due to danger of collapse.
Fire Service Commissioner Shahar Ayalon addressed the day's fires, saying "There are 13 times more fires today than on any other day," the commissioner said, attributing the brushfires to the heat, wind and Lag B'Omer bonfires.
"It all merged into one of the busiest days of the firefighting services. We're doing everything we can to take care of the fires."
Raanan Ben-Zur, AP contributed to this report
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