Multiple fires broke out Wednesday in two locations: near Highway 6 at the entrance to Moshav Tarum in Mateh Yehuda and in nearby forests. Weather conditions and strong winds led to the expansion of fire zones. Near Highway 6, traffic was closed along the route for vehicles and trains. One firefighter was injured. A general mobilization was declared in six districts. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived at the firefighting command post.
Earlier, residents were evacuated from Moshav Pediya. Due to imminent danger to life, police began immediate evacuation of residents from the communities of Eshta'ol, Beit Meir, and Mesilat Zion. Residents living in these communities received an emergency evacuation alert a short time ago issued by the Home Front Command at the request of police.
United Hatzalah reports that Mesilat Zion has been completely evacuated and is surrounded by fire, with volunteers en route to rescue two disabled individuals from there. Beit Meir has been partially evacuated. About 200 volunteers are operating in three locations: 30 ambulances, 4 mobile intensive care units, and 10 all-terrain vehicles. So far, three people have been treated for minor injuries.
Road closures: Highway 38 (Sha'ar HaGai – Beit Shemesh): intermittently opened and closed to traffic in both directions as needed. Highway 44 (Nachshon – Tarum): still closed to traffic. Highway 6 (Nesharim – Sorek): still closed to traffic.
Highway 6 area
Firefighters are operating in three main sectors in an effort to contain the fire and protect lives and property. Forces are working to defend the communities of Petahya and Pediya, the Givton Nature Reserve, and the Yatzitz Cemetery. About 25 firefighting teams are operating in the field with the assistance of firefighting aircraft, aiming to stop the fire's spread and prevent further damage.
As the fire spread and reached a nearby road, a security vehicle was caught in flames – the circumstances of the incident will be investigated. Due to the danger near the railway track, train traffic in the area was stopped. Additionally, vehicle traffic on Highway 6 was halted between the Nesharim and Sorek interchanges in both directions.
INSANE SCENE IN ISRAEL
A fire truck swallowed by flames 😬yes, the rescuers themselves are under attack.
Massive wildfires rage near Jerusalem suburbs, with Beit Shemesh and nearby towns in immediate danger.
This isn't a drill..
This is a national emergency! https://t.co/x5uuaFirPr pic.twitter.com/y5UKm8gwuN
— JFeed News (@JFeedIsraelNews) April 23, 2025
Extensive forest fire in Eshta'ol Forest: Fire and Rescue forces continue at this hour to battle the ongoing forest fire in the Eshta'ol area, in mountainous terrain that is complex and has limited accessibility. The fire is active in three main locations and is spreading due to winds, near the communities of Tarum, Ta'oz, Mesilat Zion, and Khan Sha'ar HaGai.
More than 110 firefighting teams and volunteers from all districts are operating in the field, along with eight firefighting aircraft, a firefighting helicopter, the LAHAVA unit, JNF teams, and additional support agencies. Under the direction of Fire and Rescue Commissioner, Chief Fire Officer Eyal Caspi, the Red Wave command (national effort concentration) was activated.
At the same time, evacuation of communities at risk began: Eshta'ol, Mesilat Zion, Beit Meir, and Khan Sha'ar HaGai. Highways 44 and 38 were closed to vehicle traffic, and the public is requested to follow the instructions of security and rescue forces in the field. Twenty all-terrain vehicles of "Chariots of Fire" with rapid firefighting kits are on their way to the event.
Due to the multiple fire locations, and under the guidance of firefighting authorities, train traffic was halted in recent hours at the following stations: Ramla, Beit Shemesh, Mazkeret Batya, Kiryat Malachi Yoav, Kiryat Gat, and Lehavim Rahat.
Deputy Director of MDA's Ayalon Region, Paramedic Rami Meushar said, "Since the morning hours we have prepared and conducted situation assessments together with firefighting and police forces. MDA ambulance teams have been positioned at points close to communities near the fires and are ready to provide medical treatment and assist residents. MDA's intensive care buses are also on standby and if evacuations are needed, they will take part. MDA's motorcycle unit has been reinforced and is prepared to provide medical response to citizens in their vehicles in the large traffic jams. For any medical need, dial 101."
Rami Zaritzky, Emergency Forest Fire Protection Officer at JNF said, "We are currently operating in the field, together with fire and rescue agencies, with the aim of containing the fire and preventing further damage. We call on the public to act responsibly – avoid coming to the Eshta'ol and Tzora forests. Protecting the forest is a shared mission for all of us."
Video: Wildfire in central Israel on April 23, 2025. Credit: Jewish National Fund
The Ministry of Environmental Protection opened its national situation room handling fire events involving hazardous materials and air pollution that endangers the population.
The ministry is monitoring the spread of the fire to residential areas and their proximity to factories storing hazardous materials and asbestos roofs. At the same time, ministry inspectors and Sorek Environmental Unit inspectors have gone to the field to monitor airborne particle concentrations and are working in cooperation with Fire and Rescue Services, Israel Police, and other forces operating in the field.
United Hatzalah volunteers have been operating in recent hours at several fire locations. Upon receiving reports of the fires breaking out, heightened readiness was declared among organization volunteers in the relevant areas, who responded quickly and diligently to the various scenes.
Command posts (forward command centers) were established by United Hatzalah at the various fire locations, aimed at coordinating volunteer activities and providing initial medical response if necessary. United Hatzalah ambulances, 4x4 vehicles, and EasyRider vehicles arrived at the scenes to enable quick and efficient access to all affected areas.
The District Commander examined the fire's implications for public safety and traffic arrangements, and following the situation assessment, directed crews to scan the routes with assistance from the Israel Police Air Unit helicopter and ensure no danger to road users, alongside evacuating vehicles from dangerous road sections and directing traffic to safe routes. Police ask drivers to pay attention to instructions and traffic arrangements, which are distributed through all media outlets.
WATCH: Massive wildfires wreak havoc near Jerusalem, communities evacuated, Route 1 to be closed
Major roads like Route 6 near the Sorek Interchange, Route 38, and Route 44 are closed to traffic. Also, fire officials are now debating whether to declare a "Red Torch," a general… pic.twitter.com/0AoGd2u1HU
— JFeed News (@JFeedIsraelNews) April 23, 2025
Fires in JNF forests
Massive fires broke out in JNF forests. Nature and Parks Authority firefighting teams along with Fire and Rescue forces are operating at two locations due to spreading fires, one in the Givton Springs Nature Reserve area and the other in the Judean Hills National Park area. JNF asks the public to follow instructions and avoid approaching the area – this is a real danger to human life.
The Stalactite Cave Nature Reserve has also been closed, and all visitors have been safely evacuated. An orderly evacuation of visitors from Ein Hemed National Park has begun and the site will be closed. The public is requested not to visit these sites.
Givton Springs Nature Reserve has been damaged by the fire and will be closed to visitors until further notice. Khan Sha'ar HaGai is closed to visitors; its reopening will be updated on the Nature and Parks Authority website.
Brush fire in Moshav Nir Benim
In the afternoon, a report was received at the 102 hotline of the Southern District about a brush fire that broke out near the community of Nir Benim. Firefighter teams from Ashdod, Kiryat Malachi, and Gan Yavne stations were dispatched to the scene. Forces have been working for many hours to contain the fire's spread and prevent damage to nearby homes and agricultural areas.
After extensive efforts by forces operating in the field, full control of the incident was achieved; there were no casualties, but extensive damage was caused to vegetation in the area.
