A large brush fire ignited Saturday in the Golan Heights near Moshav Had Nes, destroying 2000 dunam of natural growth and forest areas.
Fifteen firefighting units and two fire extinguishing planes were dispatched to the scene and worked to put out the flames.
The fire was said to have detonated several land mines and led to the evacuation of dozens of visitors to Breichat Hameshushim (the naturally shaped Hexagon Pool at the end of the wadi of the same name) nearby.
Nearby roads were closed to traffic due to heavy smoke and police asked visitors to avoid the area.
"It is a large fire, and fire-fighting teams are working alongside Jewish National Fund and Nature and Parks Authority supervisors in an effort to take control over the flames," Katzrin fire brigade commander Yair Elkayam told the press.
"Fire extinguishing planes are on standby," he added.
The fire had consumed hundreds of dunams of wild brush and grazing land. No injuries were reported by Saturday evening. No cause other than the hot, dry weather has been suggested for the fire, although Arab arson is not uncommon in Israel.
Last December, a devastating forest fire in the Carmel mountains near Haifa caused the deaths of 44 people and destroyed hundreds of homes. Realizing that the country lacked aerial equipment for putting out fires, Israel has recently upgraded its firefighting ability in time for the dry summer months. Two of those planes were in use today.