THE BIGGEST fire in Israel’s history left more than 40 people dead yesterday as the blaze destroyed huge areas of the Carmel forest in the north of the country, just south of the port of Haifa.
Nearly all the dead were prison service cadets who were travelling to the scene to help rescue efforts when their bus overturned and became engulfed in the fierce blaze.
Within minutes the entire vehicle was gutted and eyewitnesses said those trapped inside did not stand a chance.
Last night the fire was still raging in at least three separate locations and the fire service admitted the blaze was totally out of control.
Even the most optimistic officials predicted it would be this afternoon at the very earliest before the blaze could be extinguished.
Much of kibbutz Beit Oron was destroyed, and residents of a number of communities, including two large Druze villages, were ordered to evacuate at short notice. Army bases, two prisons and a psychiatric hospital in the vicinity were also cleared.
The fire and huge plumes of smoke could be seen over large areas of northern Israel. Residents of Haifa, which has a population of more than a quarter of a million, watched anxiously to see whether the blaze was approaching the city. Students were evacuated from Haifa university.
The fire started late yesterday afternoon and spread rapidly, helped by strong winds which kept changing direction. Its cause was unknown.
Firefighters tried to stem the blaze by building a number of fire breaks, but each time the flames, fanned by strong winds, jumped over the breaks.
Israel has suffered one of its driest winters since records began and there have been frequent fires in forests in the north over recent months.
By late afternoon yesterday firemen throughout the country were ordered to the area as every available vehicle joined in the firefighting effort.
At dusk the helicopters and other aircraft which had been fighting the blaze from the air had to return to base. Greece and Cyprus have already agreed to send aircraft to help with the fire-fighting effort.
The director of the Israeli ambulance service described the fire as “the most severe event in Israel’s history”.
Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who travelled to the scene, described the fire as a “catastrophe the likes of which we have never known”.
President Shimon Peres praised the courage of the fire fighters, some of whom were killed tackling the blaze. “We pray for a miracle, for their wellbeing, and for an end to the fire,” he said.
Israel has started to evacuate villages in the path of the blaze, Eli Bin, director of the Magen David Adom rescue service, said on Army Radio. “The situation is getting worse.”
There was little chance of stopping the blaze without assistance from abroad, Hezi Levi, a fire department spokesman, said on Army Radio.
“We have to get ready for a long fight, and I am not talking about hours, I am talking about days,” Mr Levi said.
Mr Netanyahu also called on Italy and Russia to send fire- fighting equipment.
“The fire is still raging,” fire commissioner Shimon Romach said on Channel Two television. “We are not in control.” – (Additional reporting: Bloomberg)