With summer in Israel now kicking in and temperatures soaring, the forest fire season is once again looming.
The KKL-JNF Jewish National Fund announced Tuesday that it would spend NIS 13 million (US$4.4 million) to equip 94 communities located next to forests across central Israel with essential wildfire first response equipment.
The organisation’s central region encompasses around 440,000 dunams (109,000 acres) of planted forest, stretching from Yokne’am and Zichron Ya’akov in the north to Beit Guvrin in the south.
Over recent years, security challenges, compounded by climate change, have led to an increase in wildfires, threatening communities, infrastructure and vast forested areas.
The 94 eligible communities were chosen on the basis of several factors, including proximity to or overlap with forests, fire risk assessments conducted by the Israel Fire and Rescue Services, and each community’s wildfire history over the past five years. The funds for the equipment will be allocated to local authorities, with 73 communities eligible for NIS 150,000 ($50,360) each and the other 21 for NIS 100,000 ($33,600) each.
While the Israel Fire and Rescue Services hold official responsibility for firefighting, KKL-JNF plays an important role in wildfire prevention and emergency response across Israel’s forests and open spaces.
“In a forest fire, the first few minutes are critical,” said KKL-JNF Chairman Eyal Ostrinsky. “Our goal is to ensure that the communities bordering Israel’s forests have the tools they need to respond quickly, reduce damage, and help protect lives, homes, and the forests themselves. This is a direct investment in the safety of residents and in preserving Israel’s open landscapes.”
An Israeli startup has developed an early-warning system to detect fires before they get out of control.
FROM OUT OF ZION
As has been previously reported, countless children from Africa with heart problems are flown to Israel to be treated free of charge.
Recently, a delegation of Israeli cardiac specialists flew to Rwanda to save the lives of 21 children.
ZIONISM EXPLAINED
Thanks to media distortion and a campaign of disinformation, the word Zionist has become synonymous with something evil and sinister.
This short video exposes the truth.
It should be sent to every person in need of enlightenment.
