Shin Bet assisting with investigation of Jerusalem fire - report

The massive Jerusalem area fire, contained on Tuesday, has reignited. Some 12 teams of firefighters responded and four firefighting planes are assisting efforts.

 Burned down trees following a major fire which broke out in a forest near Beit Meir, outside of Jerusalem yesterday. Firefighters are continuing to try to extinguish the fire. August 16, 2021. (photo credit: OLIVIER FITOUSSI/FLASH90)
Burned down trees following a major fire which broke out in a forest near Beit Meir, outside of Jerusalem yesterday. Firefighters are continuing to try to extinguish the fire. August 16, 2021.
(photo credit: OLIVIER FITOUSSI/FLASH90)

The Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) is assisting with the investigation of the Jerusalem Hills fire that reignited on Thursday, Ynet reported. Some 12 firefighting teams and four firefighting aircraft operating at the scene to fight the flames, just days after the fires were brought under control.

The Shin Bet did not respond to the report, according to Ynet.

Some eight additional teams made their way to the site Thursday afternoon to assist teams currently fighting the fire.

The incident had been contained as of Thursday and there is was a threat to property at that time.

Firefighters continue to fight the flames west of Jerusalem for a third day (ARIEL KEDEM / ISRAEL NATURE AND PARKS AUTHORITY).
Firefighters continue to fight the flames west of Jerusalem for a third day (ARIEL KEDEM / ISRAEL NATURE AND PARKS AUTHORITY).

The massive wildfire was originally contained on Tuesday after three days of firefighting efforts. The fire burned nearly 2,000 hectares (4,940 acres) of land, with Fire Chief Insp.-Gen. Dedi Simchi saying on Monday evening that the fire is on the scale of the Carmel Fire, which burned large swaths of land in northern Israel in 2010, killing 44 people.

Hundreds of firefighters worked overnight at a number of hot spots to extinguish the fires. On Tuesday morning, eight firefighting aircraft and helicopters began operating to fight the flames, with firefighters aiming to make as much progress as possible while winds were low and humidity was high in order to prevent the spread of the fire.

Tzvi Joffre contributed to this report.