A large fire on Saturday in the Jewish community of Havat Gilad in Samaria has destroyed 10 homes and damaged a firefighting vehicle, according to reports. The damage is extensive, and the community is grappling with the destruction.
The fire in Havat Gilad, a Jewish community in Samaria, has escalated significantly by Saturday evening, with 10 homes destroyed and a firefighting vehicle damaged, according to reports. The blaze broke out around 16:21 Jerusalem time, and by 20:52 Jerusalem, the extent of the damage had become clear. The cause remains under investigation, though suspicion of arson has been raised.
The fire was first reported at 16:21 Jerusalem, when initial accounts said at least six homes had been destroyed and a firefighter injured. At the same time, additional fires were reported in nearby Shomshit and Kedumim, and four firefighting aircraft were scrambled to Havat Gilad. By 16:21, the entire settlement of Havat Gilad was reported evacuated as homes burned. Later, at 19:56 Jerusalem, The Zioneer reported that a special investigation team, working with the IDF, had been established to probe the fire on suspicion of arson, with several people injured—one moderately and others lightly—evacuated to hospitals. The damage count has since risen from the initial six homes to ten.
The fire is the latest in a series of wildfires in Samaria this season. The Zioneer previously reported on a suspected arson brush fire near Havat Aviha in northern Samaria on June 19, which drew four aerial firefighting planes. The current fire's investigation team includes IDF personnel, reflecting the severity of the incident.
The cause of the fire has not been officially determined. While arson is suspected, no confirmation has been made. No casualties beyond the previously reported injuries have been reported in the latest update.
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