Fires in Galilee, J'lem, Beit Shemesh areas rage as temperatures soar.
By JPOST.COM STAFFFire in Gamla 311(photo credit: Osnat Eitan)
A day of scorching temperatures and strong winds had firefighting crews battling several fires throughout the country Tuesday.In the North, brush fires burning in Har Atzmon injured two Yodfat residents who attempted to help fire crews, one moderately and one seriously. The two suffered from smoke inhalation and burns.RELATED:Fires rage as heatwave sweepscountryIDF drill causes fire in GolanThe seriously injured resident was transported by helicopter as the other was evacuated by Magen David Adom crews, both to Haifa’s Rambam Hospital.The hospital reported that the two arrived with second- and third-degree burns.Fire crews had yet to gain control of the Har Atzmon blaze, despite receiving support from five air suppression aircraft and local crews. Homes in the community were not threatened by the blaze, according to fire officials.In other parts of the country, fire stations from Judea and Samaria and Beit Shemesh, backed by aircraft and the IDF, were fighting to control a large fire by the Tarkumiya checkpoint. No injuries were reported.Jerusalem fire stations, assisted by Beit Shemesh fire stations, were battling to control several fires in the Jerusalem area, where there were also no casualties reported.Herzilya fire crews aided Judea and Samaria fire stations struggling to control a blaze in Ariel. The fire was endangering homes, but did not cause any injuries.Meanwhile, an all-time record in electricity use was set on Tuesday due to Israelis’ air conditioner use during the third straight day of the current heat wave.
The electric company reported that 10,700 Megawatts of electricity were used on Tuesday, breaking the previous record set on Monday.Israel Electric called on the public not to use electrical appliances unnecessarily between the hours of 12 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Tuesday.
