Arson suspected as multiple fires plague Galilee

Northern District firefighters battle simultaneous blazes in five locations; 62 acres of natural forest lost to flames

Maor Buchnik|Published: 10.22.11 , 13:44

Five fires have erupted in the western Galilee area between Friday and Saturday leading authorities to suspect foul play.

Firefighting teams are still battling the flames, which have so far devoured 62 acres of natural forest.

Friday's fire claimed dozens of acres of greenery between Ahihud and Kibbutz Yassur, and another fire erupted in the same area on Saturday morning.

Another fire erupted several hours later near Yirka, forcing firefighters to battle the mountainous terrain as well as the flames. Some 12 acres were destroyed.

Firefighting aircrafts were deployed as part of the efforts to control the blaze.

Fire near Ahihud (Photo: Avishag Shaar-Yashuv)

Yigal Ben-Abu, who serves as the spokesman for the Western Galilee Fire Department, told Ynet that authorities are suspecting arson: "The human factor in such fires is very significant. The only question is whether these were accidental fires or was there malice involved.

"The human factor had to have had a hand in this," he said. "It takes 40 years to grow a forest and only 40 minutes for it to burn down."