The Fire and Rescue Commissioner issued an emergency edict Monday (May 16, 2016) under the authority of the Ministry of Public Security, banning all campfires in the State of Israel.
It is forbidden to light a campfire – any fire in a field outside – from 9 am to 7 pm in Israel. The penalty for violating the ban is a fine of NIS 70,000 or up to six months in jail.
Hundreds of fires broke out around the country Sunday due to the hot and dry weather conditions in Israel. Approximately 400 fires broke out, the head of the Israel firefighters’ operations division told Israel Radio.
Firefighters battled a blaze near Moshav Mata near Beit Shemesh, and another one near the Jerusalem neighborhood of Pisgat Ze’ev on Sunday evening, the latter due to a firebombing attack by Arab terrorists.
Fires broke out at Kibbutz Harel near Latrun, and at the village of Ajur, also near Beit Shemesh, as well as at Kfar Yona, east of Netanya.
The heat wave is expected to continue at least until Tuesday.