Last update - 00:00 26/06/2007
Brush fires rage throughout country as heat wave continues
By Eli Ashkenazi and Roni Singer-Heruti, Haaretz Correspondents
Brush fires raged throughout the country Tuesday, as sizzling temperatures continued to rise.
In the Gilboa region, fire squads supported by four planes are still attempting to control the blaze and prevent its spreading to nearby kibbutzim.
An estimated 100 dunams have already burned down on the eastern side of the Gilboa mountain.
Next to Beit Jan, a fire broke out near the village and firefighters are concerned it too will endanger the community. Two women were treated for smoke inhalation.
In a separate incident, fires near Petah Tikwa and Rosh Haayin raged in fields adjacent to urban areas.
As temperatures soared, Israel Electric Corporation reported a new high in energy consumption Tuesday afternoon reaching a whooping 9,500 megawatt. The company said its production capacity stands at 10,500 megawatt, and estimated it would be able to reach the high demand. The company also asked the public to use high-consuming energy appliances during early morning and late evening hours.
On Monday, 25 firefighter squads battled a blaze that broke out near Beit Shemesh as the heat wave sparked fires throughout the country.
The Beit Shemesh fire began during the afternoon, and was apparently sparked by welding carried out near a factory in the local industrial zone. It soon spread to a row of factory buildings, including a plastics manufacturer, which caused heavy and toxic smoke to bellow.
Firefighters instructed nearby residents of nearby Kibbutz Tzora living within 200-meters from the conflagration to evacuate their homes, and enjoined others to stay indoors and keep their windows shut.
Over 20 dunams of Tzora Forest vegetation were burnt, and the blaze was brought under control only during the evening.