11 Carmel fire victims identified, funerals to be held

30 additional people killed in blaze yet to be identified; many are Israel Prison Service members killed in tragic bus accident.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Carmel Fire Night 311 (photo credit: Associated Press)
Carmel Fire Night 311
(photo credit: Associated Press)
The identities of 11 of the 41 people who lost their lives to the Carmel fires raging through northern Israel were released on Friday.
Among the deceased were: Kfir Ohana, 30 from Ofakim, Topaz Even Hen Klein, 28 from Rehovot, Meir Ganon, 27 from Gan Yavneh, Yakir Suisa, 25 from Dimona, Tzagi Sium, 31 from Netivot, Oshrat Pinto, 26 from Safed, Hagi Giorno, 28 from Kiryat Gat, Inbal Emuyiel, 26 from Dimona, Beber Shabi, 35, from Kfar Jat, A'adel Tafesh, 33 from Beit Jean and Eran Wiesel, 32 from Kiryat Bialik.
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Funeral information for some of the fire's victims were also released on Friday.
Topaz Even Hen Klein was scheduled to be laid to rest at 12:00 PM at the military cemetary in Rehovot. Beber Shabi was scheduled to belaid to rest at 12:00 PM in Kfar Jat. Kfir Ohana was scheduled to be laid to rest at 12:00 PM at the military cemetary in Ofakim. Tzagi Sium wass scheduled to be laid to rest at 11:30 AM at the military cemetery in Netivot. Meir Ganon was scheduled to be laid to rest at 12:00 PM at the military cemetery in Yavne. Yakir Suisa was scheduled to be laid to rest at 12:00 PM at the military cemetery in Dimona. Oshrat Pinto was scheduled to be laid to rest at 12:00 at the military cemetery in Safed. Hagi Giorno was scheduled to be laid to rest at 11:30 AM at the milityary cemetery in Kiryat Gat. A'adel Tafesh was scheduled to be laid to rest at 12:00 PM in Beit Jean. Eran Wiesel was scheduled to be laid to rest at 12:00 PM in Haifa.
Forty-one people have lost their lives in the blaze, including 36 Israel Prison Service members, two police officers and a volunteer firefighter. Three people remained in critical condition at Rambam Hospital in Haifa.
Thirty-six members of the Prison Service – the majority of whom were new recruits  – had been dispatched to the Damon Prison near Kibbutz Bet Oren to assist in the evacuation of some 500 prisoners from the facility. The bus however never made it to its destination. It traveled from Atlit to the prison via the winding, mountainous single lane Route 721, before suddenly becoming engulfed in flames, leaving no survivors on board. The victims' families were notified of their loses Thursday night.
A tearful firefighter spokesman said the blaze had traveled 1500 meters in less than three minutes, adding, "the bus had no chance. The passengers tried to escape but were all burned alive. It was a horrific scene." The spokesman added that the fire was very far from the road on which the bus was traveling when it first set off towards the prison, but had spread far faster than expected.
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu addressed the trragic event on Thursday saying, "I will declare this a day of mourning."