Fire fighters contain blaze that broke out Tuesday in Carmel region

Fire fighters on Wednesday morning managed to contain a blaze in the Carmel region in the north that broke out Tuesday and has consumed hundreds of dunams of natural orchards. If the winds weaken, fire fighters will be able to use planes to fight the fire.

Firefighters suspect that the flames, which erupted on the southern slopes of Mount Carmel, were the result of fire from an Israel Defense Forces troops' shooting practice on a neighboring training ground. Firefighters called the incident a crime in security.

Police helicopters and fire brigades were dispatched to the scene of the fire in the afternoon, but had trouble accessing the orchard after increased easterly winds intensified the flames.

According to reports, houses in the neighboring town of Kerem Maharal and Ein Hod were not in any danger.

Fire fighters said Tuesday that most of the fires in the Carmel region in recent years started because of IDF training in the area, or originated in the Daliat al-Carmel garbage site which the Interior Ministry is unable to shut down.