Firefighters have gained control of the large fire in the Ben Shemen area, N12 reports. Highway 1 and the northbound lanes of Highway 6 have been reopened to traffic. Highway 6 southbound remains closed.
Firefighters have brought the Ben Shemen forest fire under control as of Tuesday afternoon, with Highway 1 and the northbound lanes of Highway 6 reopened to traffic, N12 reported. The southbound lanes of Highway 6 remain closed as crews continue final extinguishing operations.
The fire was first reported at approximately 14:44 Jerusalem, when Highway 1 eastbound was closed. Within minutes, Highway 6 was also shut in both directions. Initial reports from N12, Ynet, and i24NEWS described a large blaze spreading near the Ben Shemen Interchange. By 14:44, Israel Fire and Rescue Services Deputy Commissioner Tal Volovitz told N12 that crews had halted the fire's spread and were focusing on extinguishing. The blaze was later described as contained, though still active. The Zioneer reported at 15:00 that N12 had released aerial footage of the firefighting efforts.
The Zioneer has reported on several brush and forest fires in recent months, including a blaze near Highway 1 in June and a fire near Beit Shemesh in early August, underscoring the elevated fire risk during the summer.
The cause of the fire has not yet been reported. Highway 6 southbound remains closed, and firefighting crews remain on site.
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