Foreign firefighters help Israel combat wildfire plague

The first foreign firefighting planes on Nov. 25 started helping Israel tackle a vicious wave of wildfires which have forced tens of thousands to flee their homes.

Faced for the past four days with fires across the country fed by drought and high winds, Israel has been promised airborne assistance by Russia, France, Turkey, Greek Cyprus, Greece, Italy and Croatia.

On the ground, Palestinian firefighters on Nov. 24 night joined the Israelis, sending four fire engines to the northern city of Haifa and four more to the village of Beit Meir, near Jerusalem.

In the cooperative village of religious Jews, where about 400 residents were evacuated from their homes, Israeli and Palestinian crews fought side by side against the flames.

The fires appeared to be easing somewhat on Nov. 25, despite the persistent wind, although authorities warned that they could flare up again at any time.

"Things can change and develop as we speak," police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld told AFP.

Many Haifa residents spent the night away from home after tens of thousands were evacuated on Nov. 24 from the path of towering flames which threatened apartment blocks, kindergartens and entire neighborhoods.

The Haifa fires were "under control" on Nov. 25, Rosenfeld said, although large numbers of police, firefighters and rescue workers were still on the streets of the worst affected neighborhoods to monitor and respond to possible new outbreaks, an AFP journalist said.

Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon said some of the foreign planes were in action.
"We are deeply grateful to the international community," he said. "Its mobilization proves that in times of crisis we can count on many friends in this region and...