Carmel disaster: 40 killed and thousands of dunams of forest burned
These are the messages we broadcast to the residents on the first day of the Carmel disaster, in real time, before the national media understood what was happening. The information appears on the timeline from the end to the beginning.
03/12/2010, Mabezeq 08:40: Notice of immediate evacuation of streets in Dania neighborhood
03/12/2010 - 00:50 - The wind is changing its direction a little in favor of the Haifa people living in Dania
In the last hour the wind direction changed from east to east northeast. That means she doesn't keep getting close to Dania.
We recommend following the anemometer located at Bat Galim beach and keeping up to date. If you see that the wind turns a little south (that is, to the southeast) then there is reason for concern in the southern neighborhoods of Haifa. Let's keep our fingers crossed that it doesn't happen.
Photography: Yaron Karmi
03/12/2010, 00:45 - Rescuing animals in distress following the giant fire
In an effort to help save animals that are in distress following the giant fire in the north, a trapper and a vehicle of Medi Cycle on behalf of Gregori went to the area after coordinating with the CPC. Phones: Avi Medi Cycle - 052-6570129, 054-7996611 Vared 054-7728972, Uri - 054-2447848 Please report to them if there are animals in distress and try to help as much as possible.
03/12/2010, 00:05 Residents who want to help and host refugees are invited to contact the municipal hotline 106
The municipality said that there is a team from the Public Inquiries Division that compiles lists.
02/12/2010, 21:90 Exclusive photography and field analysis of Hmal Hai-Pa - the fire situation as of 21:10
Hai-fa website sent a special camera team to the south coast to photograph Haifa from west to east and assess the fire's proximity to Haifa neighborhoods.
Note that according to the proximity of the fire and the direction of the smoke, the fire is not far from Dania
Some proportion to the size of the flames: note that the height of the burning mountain is about 250 meters. Really a huge torch
Photography - Matan Karmi
03/12/2010, 19:30 Ahuva Tomer, Haifa Police Chief, mortally wounded
The residents of Haifa are praying for the safety of Ahuva Tomer, the chief of the Haifa police, who is fighting for her life right now in Rambam Hospital
Her lover was fatally injured in her car, in the fire which also burned the bus in which 40 people lost their lives.
Everyone who knows her here in Haifa is simply captivated by the breadth of her heart and the empathy she radiates to the public around her.
She is currently fighting for her life in Rambam. Sad. My heart is torn. Many Haifaites who know her are crying here with us.
My love, I hope you survive the serious injury and come back to us.
Live system here
02/12/2010, 18:30 A message from Hai-Fa's forecasting center about the expected direction of fire movement in the coming hours.
We use the experts of the Haifa surfers forecasting center on the Bat Galim site.
As of 19:00, an easterly wind began to blow at a speed of 12 knots on the Carmel.
The wind is expected to increase to a speed of 15 to 20 knots and blow in this direction until tomorrow at noon.
According to Bat Galim experts, the steady wind direction will cause the fire to move towards Highway 4.
You can follow the anemometer of the Bat Galim site in the following link and identify the direction and speed of the wind. The device is updated every 5 minutes.
Since the device is located on the beach of the church and is hidden from the mountain, 70% must be added to the average wind to get the true wind on Carmel
Map of the expected fire spread direction according to the forecasting experts of the surfers at Bat Galim beach.
We emphasize that this is only an estimate and in any case the fire and rescue forces must be obeyed.
The daily wind graph from a Bat Galim computer. Pay attention to the changes in direction today between north and east.
We believe that if the firefighters had followed the wind computer, it would have been easier for them to prepare for the north winds that arrived at noon and changed the direction of the fire movement suddenly
Pay particular attention to the north winds that came in at three and four thirty
03/12/2013, The Giant Burning: An Explosive Message to the Residents of Haifa on behalf of the Israel Police, Coastal Area
Residents are asked to stay away from the area of the fire, i.e., university, Beit Oren, Damon prison and allow the freedom and rescue forces to do their work
There is traffic congestion on the highway from the university to Haifa. Please choose alternative ways
02/12/2010 Report on fatalities in the disaster
02/12/2010, 15:00, the burning of the giant: an explosive message from the Ministry of Environmental Protection - toxic substances
The Ministry of Environmental Protection and the Ministry of Health announce that following the fire in the Carmel area.
The residents within the borders of the sector within the area of Usafia - Haifa University - Horeb Center - and Beit Oren
may be exposed to toxic substances and are therefore asked to avoid being unnecessarily outside their homes.
The Ministry of Environmental Protection is monitoring the incident and will update the public on developments."
02/12/2010, 14:00 - Explosive announcement from the University of Haifa:
The university is closed until further notice.
To all university employees, students and examinees - in accordance with the instructions of the fire services, following the fire in Carmel, the University of Haifa is closed until further notice. You are requested to be attentive to the media and the university's website in particular for changes to this provision.
Photos received in the system from residents of Haifa. Keep sending…
The Sherpa in Carmel - the view of the sea from the direction of the Haifa Mall
11: 00 Update
The strong winds change direction to the east, as a result the smell of smoke and fire spreads in Haifa neighborhoods.
The fire is spreading towards western neighborhoods in Isfaya that were asked to evacuate their homes, or stay
In houses until further notice with closed windows, close gas taps.
About 20 different firefighting planes and helicopters are operating at the fire scenes.
The manager of the Carmel Forest Hotel says that the fire reached the outskirts of the hotel, the hotel is full of soot but the building did not burn.
Due to crowds and curious people, Route 4 was completely blocked between the Zichron Ya'akov intersection and the Carmel Castle along its entire length.
Update 09:30:
The arson is clearly continuing: several hot spots were observed this morning
Near the Bedouin settlement of Samat Tivon, which borders Kiryat Tivon and Nofit.
In the Carmel Forest Hotel which is on fire, it was reported that one of the balconies of the apartments caught fire
And instead there are trapped. Rescuers arrived at the scene.
Those who perished in the disaster: the Jezreel Valley Fire Department announced this morning that firefighter Uri Samandaev from Migdal Ha'Emek,
who was mortally wounded in the attempts to put out the fire in Carmel, died of his wounds in the hospital.
Another firefighter is in critical condition and is in intensive care at Rambam Hospital
Those who perished in the disaster: the body of the head of the Haifa Police Traffic Department was identified.
Chief Inspector Yitzhak Malina, 46, who was killed in a fire near the Shavas bus that caught fire.
Melina's rank will be promoted to lieutenant colonel.
Highway 4 was closed to traffic due to the spread of the fire, deployment of forces along its length and thick smoke
which covers the Kibbutz Ein Carmel area. The police are preparing to hand out traffic reports to those who stop with their vehicle
on the coastal road.
The eagles did not raid at dawn
The relief planes arrived around 0715
And two helicopters arrived at 0810
On their way to the cremation area (the photos that passed in front of Stella Maris and Shikmona)
You can also get an impression of the strength of the wind by the "swans" (the foam on the surface of the water that the winds lift from the waves)
The east wind is very strong
And the other helicopter too
[attachment=2:1xb87rnl]The fire in Carmel - the eagles did not raid at dawn 2.jpg[/attachment:1xb87rnl]
[attachment=0:1xb87rnl]The fire in Carmel - the eagles did not raid at dawn.jpg[/attachment:1xb87rnl]
The aerial picture is very complicated
At 0850 one helicopter flew north (to Ma'al?) followed by two more HA helicopters
[attachment=1:1xb87rnl]The fire in Carmel - the eagles did not raid at dawn 3.jpg[/attachment:1xb87rnl]
One of the two HA helicopters flies north bypassing the Carmel ridge 0910
And to further complicate the atmospheric picture, at about 0920, a flight of 4 aid stations passed by heading west (?!) into the sea
In the picture you see 3 of the four
Update 08:00, the third day of the fire -
The Carmel Forest Hotel and its surroundings were burned, the wildlife environment was completely burned, but luckily the BAH corrals were not burned,
A number of houses were burned in the settlements of Yamin Ored, Ein Hod and Nir Etzion which were evacuated yesterday.
Firefighters who were feared to have been trapped in the settlements were rescued to hospitals from smoke inhalation.
There is no danger to the neighborhoods of Dania, the university and its surroundings.
The fire is still out of control in several large centers further south.
From the morning hours, more firefighting planes began to operate, up to 30 planes.
The dead: The body of Elad Rivan, a 16-year-old fire service volunteer from Haifa, was identified at the Forensic Medicine Institute.
Riven is the 20th victim identified with certainty. Riven died trying to rescue prison service personnel from the burning bus.
22: 30 Update
Critical hours for Carmel: the wind direction has changed, the fire is one hill away below Haifa University and the main road,
Fear that during the night it will increase and may slide towards the university, the eastern slopes.
The wildlife is at risk of fire, the Carmel Forest Estate Hotel is completely evacuated in the afternoon and surrounded by fire pits,
Additional centers go up in the direction of the Carmel Farms, the slopes of Usafia.
In Nir Etzion, the extinguishing operations ended and property was damaged. Kibbutz Beit Oren was completely burned down.
Meanwhile, two 35-year-old Dalit El Carmel residents were caught red-handed throwing Molotov cocktails and trying to
Create additional fire pits in the Muharka area. They were spotted by IDF drones.
The evidence is increasing - the fires that broke out - deliberate arson
Residents of the Neve Yosef neighborhood noticed two Arabs deliberately setting fire to a field near the neighborhood.
A fire broke out on the spot and firefighters were launched and took control of the fire. Citizens gave evidence
to the police who noticed the arsonists fleeing.
The fire brigade and the police believe that the fires that broke out were in the area of Kiryat and Shafaram
Both were the result of intentional arson by unknown people who fled the scene. Firefighters were on duty
In a forest fire near the Egged parking lot in Shafaram. MGB fighters were placed to watch over the forests.
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Pay attention to the data:
New York: one firefighter for every 800 residents
US cities, San Diego, Dallas for example: firefighter for every 1500 inhabitants.
European cities: firefighter standard for every 2000 inhabitants.
The average in US cities is between 1 and 3 firefighters per 1000 residents.
According to this average, there should have been at least 600 firefighters in the Haifa union, and up to 1800 firefighters.
The Haifa area, all the dangers, the forests, the port, the bay, 600 thousand inhabitants, Only 140 firefighters.
Less than a quarter of the devices in the world.
In Haifa there is a firefighter for every 4000 inhabitants!
Hi-Pe system comment - back to the main news: Huge fire on Carmel 02/12/2010 - instructions for residents and photos
Updates 13:00 p.m
In Kibbutz Beit Oren and Nir Etzion, residents were forcibly evacuated who refused to evacuate last night or returned to their homes
Roads 705 from Dania to Nesher, and road 672 from Isafia to Dania were closed.
Control of the fire was not achieved, the fire is approaching the Carmel Forest Hotel, a distance of 200 meters
Extends west of Usafia, on the edge of the Carmel Castle, on the edge of Kibbutz Beit Oren again, within the area of Nir Etzion and from Atlit
In the Kiryat Bialik fire that broke out at a compost plant in the Tzur Shalom industrial zone, a gas station and buildings caught fire
nearby industry. The factories in the area were evacuated for fear of a fire incident. Firefighters gained control of the fire.
[quote="Yeron Karmi":tby3z9zv]In the entire powerful, Hittite and advanced state of Israel that launches satellites into space, they were unable to maintain even one heavy firefighting plane.
Someone pinch me
And the fact that there are 200 firefighters for 600 residents, a third of the lowest standard?
And the fact that there are pirate dumps that no one has bothered to take care of for years?
And the fact that there is not a sufficient amount of observers even though it is clear that there are arsons in Carmel?
And the fact that they want to cancel an airport in Haifa when firefighting planes will have to arrive at a corner without a place to land?
Yes, the main thing is that Gil Hovav tastes hummus. The main thing is that the speakers are busy with signs and advertisements and articles in magazines and being interviewed
How sad and how terrible, apparently the explosion at the refineries was not a terrible disaster, it was not allowed to interfere with the celebrations..
Do you remember a few months ago how you practiced the rear and the same mayor told us with a smile that American generals had arrived
Especially for Haifa to learn from the municipality and the Home Front Command how to be prepared..
The interview with Chief Ahuva Tomer, before the disaster that occurred, also ended with her disparaging firefighting estimates and claiming that they tend to exaggerate the fire situation and that one should not get into hysteria.
Where do we have such abundant confidence that "it will be fine", the culture of the neighbor, instead of setting procedures, standards, practicing to the end.
When we don't have one firefighting plane, when they had to run fire engines with water because the supply was cut off and meanwhile the fire spread
And after half a day all the firefighters in Israel were called due to a lack of manpower.
Just shameful, shameful.
In the entire powerful, Hittite and advanced state of Israel that launches satellites into space, they were unable to maintain even one heavy firefighting plane.
Someone pinch me
Firefighting operations also continue from the air
It's not rain clouds, it's the view of the sea from the direction of the Haifa Mall. yellowish gray You can't see the sea.
[attachment=0:1m6h4y4z]The Sherpa in Carmel - the view of the sea from the direction of the Haifa Mall.jpg[/attachment:1m6h4y4z]
I am attaching a photo from Ramat Eshkol, yesterday evening. Everything seems very close and threatening
This morning, it's quieter in our direction, but definitely not the end...
[attachment=0:56f61bdp]DSC_3348_x800.jpg[/attachment:56f61bdp]
Haifa Municipality announces:
Residents of Dania who live in the streets adjacent to Carmel Park are asked to evacuate immediately to the Municipal High School on Bekurim Street.
The streets are:
Sweden, Liberia, Holland, Esther Rabin, The Hague, the remnant of the refugee, Norway, Costa Rica, Camille Huisman, Huberman, Finland, Leah Goldberg.
Please bring identification, chronic medications and cell phones.
Back to the main news: Huge fire on Carmel 02/12/2010 - instructions for residents and photos
If You Want Movement: Twenty vehicles of If You Want activists in Haifa are helping to evacuate residents of the Carmel Castle. Details for volunteering here
About twenty vehicles of student volunteers organized by volunteers from the "If You Want" movement at Haifa University and the Technion are helping to evacuate residents in the upper neighborhoods of the Carmel Castle.
In addition, many volunteers who are ready to help and will be activated if necessary, continue to contact and register all the time.
For details:
Matan responsible for the North District in the "If You Want" movement
0542297112
Amit Barak
Head of Activist and Human Resources Division
"if you want" movement
054-6650136
Pager- 1705-416666 Subscriber: 32809
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Back to the main news: Huge fire on Carmel 02/12/2010 - instructions for residents and photos
The picture of the smoke over the western Carmel
The strong winds disperse it and push it west
[attachment=1:2dvtjjvb]The picture of the smoke over the Western Carmel 2.jpg[/attachment:2dvtjjvb]
[attachment=0:2dvtjjvb]The picture of the smoke over the western Carmel.jpg[/attachment:2dvtjjvb]
Editor's note:
We ask that you continue to upload pictures of your homes and we will distribute them. You can upload here or send to the red email or tag us on Facebook.
For the main news: Huge fire on Carmel 02/12/2010 - instructions for residents and photos
Bring back the green to the mountain
Let the morning rise and see the darkness.
the dimensions of this great disaster.
The eastern winds are still blowing very strongly and fanning the fire
They burn every green patch.
The heart aches for the dead for the greatest ecological disaster that has happened to us.
It is indeed a day of national mourning as the Prime Minister said.
They will call for investigative committees and there will certainly be slander from all directions.
But all this will not help the black and sooty mountain. We need to join forces.
We need a green initiative.
Think how to return the green to the mountain.
Although the fire has not yet been extinguished and extinguishing efforts are still ongoing.
They still haven't buried the dead. And the pain is great.
But we also need to look ahead You have to start thinking about the next day.
To prepare for a nationwide national activity and first and foremost for the residents of Haifa
And that this damn fire will end, start thinking about how Bring back the green to the mountain.
Think about the restoration options (planting, etc.).
To declare the year 2011 as the year of the restoration of Mount Carmel.
This is an activity that every resident and citizen of the country must join and perform.
Activity crosses parties, religions and nationalities. Activity in cooperation with all green organizations and environmentalists
The activity of Haifa Municipality should and must lead.
Immediately after the extinguishing operations are finished and the investigations are over
Enter into an emergency plan and activity for the restoration of the mountain.
My photos in
Let's hope that the firefighters succeed in their mission as quickly as possible and without more deaths.
Update 19:00:
There is no control over the fire which continues to move westward in several locations quickly.
About three are missing, grave fear for their lives.
An order was given for the immediate evacuation of Moshav Nir Etzion, Kfar Ein Hod and an alert was given in prison 6 and the Carmel Castle.
Israel made an urgent request for assistance from European countries - Italy, Greece, Russia, to put out fires.
The fire has not yet been brought under control.
The Home Front Command is mobilizing two reserve battalions and 8 orders have been issued to medics and doctors to open a field hospital at the center of the fire.
Reporter Avi Ashkenazi from Ma'ariv for Channel 10: "This is a very severe national slap in the face to Israel's firefighting system.
The firefighting equipment is outdated and scarce and suffers from severe neglect, and the country lags behind in firefighting infrastructure.
There are no firefighting planes, manpower was brought in from all over the country and the event is still in progress."
A large part of the dead are the security and SHBS jobs of a rescue bus. XXX was deleted. It was not allowed to publish where the dead were fromXXX
According to the reports of the fire brigade from the fire, Kibbutz Beit Oren burned and was almost completely destroyed.
Houses were burned to the ground and heavy damage was caused.
According to the chairman of KKL-Junk, so far 7000 dunams of natural woodland and planted forest have been burned.
This is one of the largest fires in the country's history.
A spokesman for the fire services (17:00): The fire has not yet been brought under control, this is the largest fire event we remember.
It is about the three centers of the fire outbreak at the same time and the possibility of ignition is also being examined
Carmel Hospital spokesperson: A train of ambulances that continues to arrive. Carmel Hospital's emergency room is being evacuated, dozens more casualties will arrive
Assessment: A firestorm trapped the bus of rescuers from Damon Prison, where about 40 people were killed and seriously injured.
Damage was caused to property in Beit Oren. Residents of Beit Oren, the remote houses of Isfaia and the university dormitories were evacuated.
There is no fear for the buildings in the Haifa neighborhoods - Dania and the University.
Yahav, who arrived at the scene, said that the activity of the pirate dump is known to the municipality, and "it was only a matter of time before a disaster happened." (ynet)
It is not clear if this is a stupid or shameless statement, but please Yona Yahav, please spare us from your heavy punishment.
Following the loss of control over the huge fire today in the Carmel forests, she wrote with the spokesman of the fire services, Rashef Hezi Levy, what he thinks about the ability of the Haifa stations to control a large fire as a result of an earthquake, malfunctions or a security incident at the petrochemical plants in the Haifa Bay: He admits that it will be impossible to control The focal points of the fire and daily fears a mass disaster:
Research on the firefighting system: without change, a disaster will happen here
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Thus, for example, he states that many fire stations in the Haifa and Kiryat area are located in old and non-durable buildings: five of the eight stations were built not according to the standard and may collapse. Other stations, such as the one on the Paz Bridge, are located in an area where all exits involve traveling over bridges. "The collapse of one bridge could completely block fire truck exits," Levy explains.
He further states in his research that there is no cooperation between the firefighters at the Haifa station and the firefighters at the nearby factories.
As part of his work in the field, Levy passes daily near petrochemical plants in Haifa Bay. Every time he looks at them, his concern grows. "It's a very big potential for a disaster on a massive scale," He says. For many months, Levy worked shifts at the Haifa fire department, and devoted his free time to research: he checked the structure of the soil, the likelihood of earthquakes, and more.
"Haifa Bay is exposed to seismic effects, in the Yagur fault, the Syrian-African fault. All the fire services and other rescue agencies that will try to respond after an earthquake may simply be canceled in the face of the dimensions of the fires. The many teams will not be effective against the big fires at all. The research and the book actually tell the decision makers, don't send us, the firefighters, to put out the big fires that will be created in the big factories.
Beit Oren: Four seriously injured and 45 injured in various degrees in the bus fire
Four were fatally injured and 45 injured with various degrees of injury from burns and smoke inhalation in the bus fire in the Beit Oren forest.
Air Force helicopters evacuate casualties to hospitals.
Editor's note. A bus with prisoners overturned and caught in flames:
Burning the giant: an explosive message from the Ministry of Environmental Protection - toxic substances
The Ministry of Environmental Protection and the Ministry of Health announce that following the fire in the Carmel area.
The residents within the borders of the sector within the area of Usafia - Haifa University - Horeb Center - and Beit Oren
may be exposed to toxic substances and are therefore asked to avoid being unnecessarily outside their homes.
The Ministry of Environmental Protection is monitoring the incident and will update the public on developments
I see 3 firefighting planes flying from the direction of Carmel Castle to the fire area, spraying water and returning.
The smoke covers the sky a vast distance above the Mediterranean Sea
The fire in Carmel: Evacuation of the Yoret HaCarmel Hotel, Beit Oren and Haifa University on standby for evacuation
Firefighters of the "Haifa" union call for the evacuation of the Carmel Forest Hotel at this time and for the first time - they may also evacuate the University of Haifa.
This is following the giant fire in the Carmel forests. A short time ago, the prison, Beit Oren and houses near the fire were evacuated.
The fire is not under control, dozens of fire brigades from all over the country including the center of the country have been called and 4 spraying planes are working.
The smoke can be seen as far back as Zichron Ya'akov.