THE INFERNO
But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob,
And He who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name;
You are Mine.
2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,
Nor shall the flame scorch you.
3 For I am the Lord your God,
The Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
Isaiah 43:1-3
But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob,
And He who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name;
You are Mine.
2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,
Nor shall the flame scorch you.
3 For I am the Lord your God,
The Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
Isaiah 43:1-3
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| Fires reach apartment buildings in Haifa on Thursday http://images.indianexpress.com/2016/11/israel.jpg |
I think I spoke too soon in my previous blog. The early rains have not really begun in Israel. Apart from some heavy isolated storms here and there, we are still desperately awaiting the arrival of a real winter cyclone system bringing us a good soaking rain. The land is terribly dry and meteorologists are saying that natural waterways are lower than they have been for at least 90 years. In other words we are in the grip of a very serious drought.
This past week a strong bone-chilling, but ultra-dry wind blew in across the desert from Siberia. This dropped humidity levels down to about 10 - 15% across the country. At times the winds were gusting up to 100km/h. This kind of weather combined with tinder dry pine and cedar forests, and brushland, set the scene for a massive outbreak of fires across the country.
In the period between the 18th and 26th November the fire and emergency services were called out to no less than 1773 separate fires. Some of the fires no doubt started naturally or because of carelessly disposed cigarettes or barbecue coals, but many have clearly been lit by arsonists with 'nationalistic' motivation - that is to say in plain language - by Palestinian and Arab-Israeli terrorists. Some of these arsonists were caught in the act. While government authorities are trying to downplay this aspect of the fires, others have dubbed the outbreak of fires the Fire Intifada. It is true also however that other Arab-Israelis have been quick to offer help ,some taking evacuees into their own homes. The Palestinian Authority also sent 8 fire trucks and some 40 personnel to help fight the fires.
In the period between the 18th and 26th November the fire and emergency services were called out to no less than 1773 separate fires. Some of the fires no doubt started naturally or because of carelessly disposed cigarettes or barbecue coals, but many have clearly been lit by arsonists with 'nationalistic' motivation - that is to say in plain language - by Palestinian and Arab-Israeli terrorists. Some of these arsonists were caught in the act. While government authorities are trying to downplay this aspect of the fires, others have dubbed the outbreak of fires the Fire Intifada. It is true also however that other Arab-Israelis have been quick to offer help ,some taking evacuees into their own homes. The Palestinian Authority also sent 8 fire trucks and some 40 personnel to help fight the fires.
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| Active fires on Thursday |
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| Evacuating residents in Haifa |
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| Fleeing the fires in Haifa http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.2886300.1480007293!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_750/mideast-israel-fire.jpg
Some 80,000 people had to be evacuated from their homes, many carrying in their hands only what they could grab in haste. Hundreds of homes have been burnt beyond repair and many others damaged. Some 527 homes were destroyed in Haifa alone, leaving some 1600 people homeless, having lost everything except the clothes on their backs. Schools, retirement homes and businesses have also been destroyed, not to mention some 32,000 acres of forest and brushland. Some 2000 firemen have so far worked in horrendous conditions for 6 days without a break, snatching an hour of sleep here and a sandwich there.
Beginning last Tuesday, fires threatened the town of Nataf and the main road between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv around Shar Hagai, and swept towards the town of Neve Ilan and the neighbouring kibbutz Yad Hasmonah. .That day those settlements were spared thanks to the efforts of the fire fighters ( and a lot of prayers). Some homes on the outskirts of the city of Modiin were destroyed however.The following day hundreds were evacuated from the beautiful town of Zichron Yaacov on the Carmel Hills and scores of homes were destroyed there. .
The worst day however was Thursday when some 60,000 people in Haifa were evacuated through smoke and flames as several fires swept up the windswept, tinder dry hills. I sat glued to my TV watching as people fled for their lives clutching a few scant belongings, running through smoke with flames all around. I saw a woman who had to be restrained from rushing into her already burning apartment building to rescue her dog. My heart broke for her. (We later learned that the dog somehow miraculously survived without injury!- God is good!) Exhausted firefighters, police and civil defense personnel risked their lives and health in the toxic smoke to make sure everyone was rescued. I watched with horror as elderly folk were carried out of their retirement home, while the flames licked the walls and choking smoke surrounded them. Firemen and planes battled the fires threatening a gas (petrol) station for hours and amazingly managed to prevent it from burning. Had it gone up I cannot imagine what might have happened. Miraculously though hundreds were hospitalized with minor injuries, mainly smoke inhalation, not one single person has died. As far as I know no one even suffered serious burns. It is truly a miracle.
There are a myriad of heart-wrenching personal stories. One family lost their home in a missile attack during the Gulf War, rebuilt their home and life in Zichron Yaacov, only to have their beautiful new home and all their belongings destroyed in this fire. The mother just said "Thank God we are all still alive and we will just have to start over again". Another family was out when their apartment was totally burned and the little girl was distraught about her cat. As soon as it was possible, the firemen went into the apartment and, guess what - they found the lovely white fluffy cat totally unscathed - another miracle.
On Friday many countries sent us help in the form of fire fighting planes and personnel to supplement our exhausted firemen. Especially helpful have been some supertanker firefighting planes. May God bless all those countries, which included the UK, USA, Russia, Greece, Sicily, Italy, Croatia, Turkey, Jordan and Egypt.
This meant a lot to us Israelis. Often we feel very alone and get the impression that no one cares what happens to us. To see these countries so willing to help us in our hour of great need was very gratifying.
The wind dropped some degree on Friday and the fire in Haifa was brought under control. Elsewhere the battle continued especially in the corridor along the road to Jerusalem. There fires swept through Forest Canada and threated the town of Nataf once more and it was evacuated. Some of the residents of Nataf sought refuge this time in the Christian kibbutz of Yad HaShmona, where they were made most welcome. Most of Nataf was spared but a few homes and a famous restaurant were destroyed. The gas station at Latrun on the Jerusalem - Tel Aviv highway was saved from the flames, and the fire was prevented from spreading to the neighboring settlements of Neve Ilan and Yad Hashmona.
Over the weekend, 186 fresh fires lit up the country, marking a marginal decrease from an average of 200-250 daily fire incidents. On Saturday night 5 fires we set simultaneously by arsonists in the settlement of Halamish, near Jerusalem. The 350 residents were forced to flee for their lives. No one died but 40 homes were destroyed by the fire. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4884773,00.html 30 November The weather has improved somewhat now with an increase of humidity to around 80% here in Jerusalem and rain is forecast to arrive over the next couple of days. Last night another large fire erupted in brush in Jerusalem and necessitated the evacuation of a 6 storey building containing a yeshiva. This shows that the danger has not totally passed yet. Until we get good soaking rain the forests and brush are at risk. Please pray that this weather system will live up to our hopes and bring us the rain the land so badly needs. Throughout all this time I have been somewhat on edge personally as my appartment building is surrounded by tinder-dry, highly inflammable pine and cedar trees with a lot of dry grass and rubbish underneath. A stray cigarette butt could have made us into yet another statistic. Already this summer we have had one fire that was halted only a meter or two from a big tree that is right up against the building. I slept through that one and no one even thought to wake me. I have a bag packed and the cat box at the ready just in case I have to make a run for it. So far all is well but I will be greatly relieved when some rain falls. It is supposed to rain tonight but so far, not a drop. Meanwhile I give thanks that God has once more supernaturally protected his people. In spite of the tragedies that have occured not one person has died as a result of all these fires. Please keep praying for the safety of everyone here and especially that the rains will not tarry. |
