Approximately 200 residents of Roglit, located 15 miles west of Jerusalem, were forced to leave their homes Monday due to a fire. Multiple fires struck dozens of other locales as a heat wave swept over the country.
The Roglit fire, which started as a brushfire in an open area near the town, entirely consumed one home and caused serious damage to adjacent houses. Three people suffered from smoke inhalation. Also suffering fire damage were a number of chicken coops and private fields. After several hours, firefighters were able to contain the fire.
A large fire also raged Monday near the port of Ashdod. Four separate firefighting teams were deployed to the scene, including two spray planes. No injuries were reported.
In the north of the country, the Mt. Meiron Nature Reserve was also hit by a devastating fire. More than 300 dunams (75 acres) of parkland were consumed by the flames. The nature preserve, near Tzfat (Safed) is the largest of its kind in Israel.
Fires also blazed in 20 other locations in the western Galilee, including in a large local forest. Seven teams of firefighters contained the flames, which threatened the towns of Pekiin, Beit Jan and Abu Snan.
Brushfires were reported in other locales throughout the country, including Yavne and Rehovot, on the coastal plain, and Taibe and Hod Hasharon further inland in the central region. A fire also broke out in a neighborhood in the coastal city of Herzliya. Firemen fought the fires for hours to keep the flames from damaging residential areas.