http://www.jpost.com/VideoArticles/Article.aspx?id=197845 Breaking News T_
Police: 2 nabbed on suspicion of lighting fires in North
By YAAKOV LAPPIN AND JPOST.COM STAFF
12/03/2010 17:06
Suspects are residents of Daliat al-Carmel, aged 35, allegedly seen throwing lit objects in Carmel area; separate wildfire reported near Route 70 south of Haifa.
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Two suspects were apprehended by police after being seen hurling Molotov cocktails in a forest on a Carmel mountain hilltop. There was a pursuit and the suspects were apprehended. Police suspect that the two may have also been behind the blazes at Tzur Shalom (near Kiryat Bialik north of Haifa) and Tivon.
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Head of Hof police sub-district Asst.-Cmdr. Roni Attia said that arson is suspected in a number of separate fires, including Kiryat Bialik and Kiryat Tivon.
A separate wildfire was reported Friday afternoon in a field near Route 70, in the southern Carmel mountains near Bat Shlomo (south of Haifa). Route 70 was closed to traffic in both directions.
Earlier on Friday, police found a bike, a bag, and a wig inside near a fire center in Tzur Shalom, leading them to believe that the fire was caused by an arsonist or arsonists.
Police Spokesman Micky Rosenfeld told the Post that there are 3 fire centers - Tzur Shalom, the Atlit - Tirat Hacarmel area, and the Carmel hillsides. In one, Tzur Shalom, north of Haifa, "we located suspicious items pointing to arson. As for the other two major fires, it is too early and the incidents are to large in scale to know their causes at this stage." The death toll in the fires rose to 42 on Friday, according to Army Radio.
Galillee police were spread out over the area searching for suspects. Members of the public who see suspicious activity should call 100 immediately.
A firefighter spokesman told The Jerusalem Post on Friday that Haifa is no longer in danger from the brush fires.
The fire is now focused on the Carmel hillsides and the Atlit region of Route 4, the spokesman stated.
" We won't put this out by today but we are aiming to significantly weaken the fire by sunset," he added.
The spokeman's statement came as northern Israel was in a state of emergency as the worst ever fire in the country's history incinerated a bus carrying dozens of members of the Israel Prisons Service, killing everyone on board, destroying thousands upon thousands of dunams of forests on the Carmel Mountain ridge and injuring dozens.
By early Friday afternoon, fire had spread to new areas in the Carmel despite the efforts of firefighters who were aided by the first foreign firefighting aircraft which arrived to help control the blaze.
Firefighters were battling flames on several fronts, including Na'aman Junction, Chai Bar, the entrance to the village of Usfiya, and the area between Usfiya and Dalia.
Fire spread to the area west of Usfiya, though flames were low, Haifa firefighters said. Flames were centering 300 meters from the Ya'arot hotel in the Carmel.
At Nir Etzion the blaze was out of control, approaching homes and endangering citizens who returned to their homes and ignored police instructions. Police were forced to evacuate citizens using force.
Firefighters were on the ground at all locations and receiving aerial assistance in dousing the flames.
Eight foreign planes, three helicopters, three firetrucks, and over 150 foreign firefighters have arrived in Israel so far, with more expected.
The parts of routes 2 and 4 leading to that region of the country were closed, effectively closing off all major approaches to the North. Route 2 was subsequently reopened to traffic.
Aharonovitch: Kiryat Tivon blaze now under control; arson suspected
A blaze in Kiryat Tivon is now under control, Public Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch said Friday. Police suspect that arson may also be behind the Kiryat Tivon fire.
Aharonovitch added that Haifa's Denya area is safe and that fire has been pushed back from the area
"We are not sending fire crews into the forests, this is too dangerous. The focus is on planes. We have Israeli and foreign planes dousing the flames, and we need more planes," said Aharonovitch.
Police: Residents near smoke should close windows
Police issued the following instructions to members of the public: Those residing in homes near the smoke are asked close their windows. In case members of the public are asked to evacuate, they are asked to shut off all gas mains, and close windows and screens to prevent fire from spreading.
Those evacuated are asked not to return to their homes until receiving instructions to do so. Members of the public should continue to listen to emergency services for ensured safety.
Firefighters gained control of flames threatening residential areas of Tirat Hacarmel on Friday, preventing the blaze from causing serious damage to homes, fire officials reported.
According to Jewish National Fund officials, over 20,000 dunams have been consumed and around 13,000 residents have been evacuated from their homes as a result of the blaze which has been spreading due to strong eastern winds.
Forty-two people have lost their lives in the blaze, according to Army Radio, including 36 Israel Prison Service members, two police officers and a volunteer firefighter. Three people remained in critical condition at Rambam Hospital in Haifa.
Additional number for information for affected families: 08 977-5717
Hotline for immigrants living in the North who might be in need of assistance: 1255081010
Police ask all volunteers not to approach fire zones. Volunteers should call Lev Ehad on 02 675 5150 for instructions, or 02 675 5185
Yaakov Katz and Tovah Lazaroff contributed to this report.
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