Israel’s forest fire kills trapped guards

MEGADIM, Israel – Dozens of Israeli guards trying to rescue prisoners threatened by the worst forest fire in the country’s history died Thursday when their bus became trapped in the same inferno.

As the guards raced toward the prison holding mostly Palestinians, a lone tree fell across the road, blocking their path. With no way out, many of them were burned alive inside the vehicle. Others perished while trying to flee the flames fed by brush left tinder-dry by lack of rain.

When the smoke cleared, at least 36 were dead.

“This is a disaster of unprecedented proportions,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.

The flames forced 12,000 people from their homes, leveled a village and threatened to cause irreparable harm to one of Israel’s few forested areas. The fire was still burning out of control near midnight.

Israel issued a rare call for international assistance, a measure of the severity of the disaster. Turkey put aside recent tensions to pledge aid, and Netanyahu’s office said Greece, Spain and Cyprus agreed to send firefighting helicopters.

Fire officials said the blaze had blackened some 1,600 acres.

Police also evacuated a university, three prisons and a hospital.

Investigators speculated that the fire could have been sparked accidentally, or it might have been deliberately set. But they largely ruled out any sort of attack by a Palestinian group.

The fire broke out around midday and quickly spread, fanned by unusually hot and dry conditions. Israel experienced an exceptionally warm summer and has had little rain during the normally wet autumn.

Flames ripped through the Carmel forest in Israel’s Galilee region, eventually reaching the coastal city of Haifa after jumping from place to place in the forest.

Israel’s appeal for international assistance was unusual. The Jewish state is better known for sending its own rescue and medical personnel to other countries in disaster-relief efforts.

Flames heavily damaged one of Israel’s few large forests, made up of natural growth and planted areas, a favorite spot for camping, hiking and picnics. The woods provided a refuge for dozens of species of wildlife. Forestry workers tried to evacuate animals from the burning woods.

The forest recovered slowly after a fire in 1989, but experts said Thursday’s blaze was much worse.

Israel’s president, Shimon Peres, expressed sorrow for the loss of life and praised firefighters trying to contain the blaze.

“They exemplify personal and superior bravery, and we are praying for a miracle,” Peres said in a ceremony marking the Hanukkah holiday. “We pray for their safety. We pray for the cessation of the fire.”

Peres’ office said he later spoke to the Palestinian prime minister, Salam Fayyad, who offered condolences.