Fire and Rescue Services report that 21 ground crews and 4 aircraft have halted the spread of the large fire near the Ben Shemen Interchange, according to N12. Highways remain blocked and the public is urged to avoid the area entirely.
In the latest update from Fire and Rescue Services, 21 ground crews and four aircraft have halted the spread of the large fire at the Ben Shemen Interchange, N12 reports. The highways at the junction, including Highway 6 and Highway 1, remain closed, and the public is urged to avoid the area entirely.
The fire was first reported at around 14:35 Jerusalem, when 14 crews and four aircraft were deployed, though the location was initially undisclosed. By 14:44, multiple news outlets including N12, Ynet, and i24NEWS confirmed that both Highway 6 and Highway 1 eastbound were blocked due to the blaze, with traffic diverted to Routes 443 and 444. At 15:14, Deputy Commissioner Tal Volovitz of the Israel Fire and Rescue Services announced that the fire's spread had been stopped and crews were focusing on final extinguishing. The current update confirms the containment with a larger force of 21 crews and specifies the location as the Ben Shemen Interchange, a major junction on Highway 6.
No casualties have been reported. The cause of the fire has not been disclosed. Firefighting aircraft continue to operate, and ground crews are working to fully extinguish the blaze.
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