Heavy heat waves for many days, fires raging around the world in Greece, Italy, Portugal, Croatia, Turkey and Algeria. Against the background of all this, Israel is also in focus and must prepare for huge fire scenarios.
Rami Zaritsky, director of the JNF fire department, warns that Israel must prepare quickly for the outbreak of severe fires in Israel. "The extreme heat waves we are seeing around the world increase the likelihood of forest fires breaking out that we are currently seeing throughout the Mediterranean basin. The conditions that create these fires also exist here, and the State of Israel must immediately prepare for similar scenarios."
A fire on one of Spain's Canary Islands, photo: AP
Zaritsky further notes: "It is not inconceivable that fires will break out in JNF forests, but we hope that in light of the preliminary preparations we will be able to prevent huge fires. Of course, unusual weather conditions can cause significant fires and create a firestorm - an event in which a microclimate is created in the area of the fire that worsens its condition. We maintain a nationwide array of fire crews and duty during the day and on weekends. This system includes 25 dedicated modern fire engines, manned observation towers and one of the most unique fire detection systems in the world.
"These actions prevent the rapid spread of fire, and some even provide areas with extinguishing preparedness. The faster fire crews arrive with significant force for each fire in an open area, the more the fire will prevent the development of the fire to unwanted proportions."
Efforts to extinguish the fire in Rhodes, Photo: AP
Zaritsky further notes: "We at the JNF call on the general public and vacationers and travelers to refrain from lighting open fires in the forest, and to avoid works that create giches and fire, such as welding, disc cutting and more. If you encounter a campfire, try to extinguish it by spraying water and covering it with dirt. If you are unsuccessful, call the fire department immediately (102)."
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