Mountainous area near Jerusalem consumed by devastating wildfire
A wildfire that broke out in the Jerusalem Mountains yesterday afternoon is still ongoing, with dozens of firefighting teams and aircraft working tirelessly to extinguish the flames. The blaze, which started spreading rapidly around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in the area of Begin Park, a forested region in the Jerusalem Mountains, has been burning for over 14 hours.
Firefighting teams from the Beit Shemesh area and the Jerusalem District, along with eight firefighting planes, were dispatched to combat the wildfire. The Israel Air Force's 103 Squadron has been deployed, with C-130J-30 aircraft being used to drop water and fire retardant. International support has also been welcomed, with Cyprus providing assistance in the form of a helicopter.
Currently, efforts are focused on ensuring that the fires do not spread further and that public safety remains intact. Fire crews are working under difficult conditions to halt the fire's advance and support ground teams. Aerial and ground firefighting efforts are expected to continue throughout the day.
Although there was a significant fire on April 30, 2025, which threatened communities such as Neve Shalom, Beko’a, Ta’oz, Mevo Horon, Mishmar Ayalon, and Nahshon, the latest fires do not appear to pose an immediate danger to adjacent communities at this time. However, the situation remains under close monitoring due to potential wind conditions that could affect fire spread. Authorities have warned that wind conditions later in the day could potentially change the situation.
As of July 17, 2025, the wildfire is still close to the communities of Bar Giora, Nes Harim, and Tzur Hadassah. However, authorities have not issued an immediate threat to these communities. Further updates on the wildfire situation will be issued as the situation develops.
[1] Jerusalem Post, "Jerusalem wildfire: Firefighters continue battle against blaze in Jerusalem Mountains," July 17, 2025. [2] Ynet News, "Jerusalem wildfire: Multiple communities under threat as blaze continues to spread," July 17, 2025. [3] Times of Israel, "Jerusalem wildfire: Firefighting efforts continue as wind conditions remain a concern," July 17, 2025. [4] Israeli Army Radio, "Jerusalem wildfire: Israel Air Force deploys aircraft to combat blaze," July 17, 2025. [5] Cyprus Mail, "Cyprus helicopter aids in Jerusalem wildfire efforts," July 17, 2025.
- The aerial and ground firefighting efforts have expanded to include environmental-science researchers, as they study the impact of the wildfire on the surrounding ecosystem and suggest possible long-term mitigation strategies.
- As the wildfire continues, meteorologists predict the weather pattern might change, potentially escalating the fire danger, emphasizing the importance of continued science-based decision-making to ensure public safety.
