Suspected arson in forest fires near Wai Ara on Saturday
Photo: Eli Mandelbaum
Suspected arson: Two forest fires put out near Wadi Ara
Seven fire crews and four planes took control of the fire, firemen report seeing civilians near the sites of the fires.
Two forest fires erupted on Saturday afternoon in the Wadi Ara area near Haifa, one fire close to the Akada neighborhood in Umm Al-Fahm, and the other near Mei Ami. Within a couple of hours, seven fire crews assisted by four planes took control of the fire.
It was unclear how the fire began, however police were investigating reports of suspected arson after firemen reported to have seen civilians in the vicinity of the site, who they suspected as arsonists.
The hot and dry weather could lead to a rapid spread of the fire. Saturday was unseasonably warm with strong winds blowing. Temperatures of more than 26 degrees Celsius were measured on the coastal plane.
