Jerusalem - Amid the heatwave striking Israel on Monday, a fire in Jerusalem’s Givat Shaul neighborhood briefly closed down a section of Highway 1 and forced the evacuation of a synagogue in the area.
The fire did not endanger homes in the area, but residents were instructed to close their windows to avoid smoke inhalation. The fire began in the wholesalers market in Givat Shaul and quickly spread to the nearby wooded area.
According to a Channel 2 report, the fire burned some of the asbestos roofs on the market’s structures, leading to fears that harmful materials could be spread.
Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat arrived at the scene wearing a medical mask and speaking to firefighting crews.
The fire was one of several being battled by firefighters throughout the country on Monday.
Five Firefighting crews managed to gain control of a second fire in the capital’s Ramot neighborhood.
Earlier on Monday, a large fire threatened Kfar Uriah in the Beit Shemesh area, but firefighters managed to gain control of the blaze after it had burned through some 500 dunams.
In the North, firefighters fought two fires simultaneously in Mayaser and near the Zichron Yaakov Junction on Highway 2. The fire near Zichron Yaakov led to the temporary closure of sections of Highway 2.
There were no reports of injuries in Monday’s fires.
A siginificant drop in temperatures was forecasted for Tuesday, although it was still expected to be unseasonably hot in the mountains and inland regions.
View of a large fire that broke at a warehouse in Givat Shaul neighborhood on May 16, 2016. Photo by Shlomi Cohen/Flash90
An Ultra orthodox jewish man carrying out books from a synagogue at the scene where a fire that broke at a warehouse in Givat Shaul neighborhood on May 16, 2016. (Credit: Flash90)
Firefighters at the scene of a large fire that broke at a warehouse in Givat Shaul neighborhood on May 16, 2016. (Credit: Flash90)
Firefighters at the scene of a large fire that broke at a warehouse in Givat Shaul neighborhood on May 16, 2016. (Credit: Flash90)
Jerusalem mayor Nir Barkat at the scene of a large fire that broke at a warehouse in Givat Shaul neighborhood on May 16, 2016. (Credit: Flash90)
Jerusalem mayor Nir Barkat at the scene of a large fire that broke at a warehouse in Givat Shaul neighborhood on May 16, 2016. (Credit: Flash90)
Firefighters at the scene of a large fire that broke at a warehouse in Givat Shaul neighborhood on May 16, 2016. (Credit: Flash90)
Ultra orthodox jewish men carrying out Torah scrolls from a synagogue at the scene where a fire that broke at a warehouse in Givat Shaul neighborhood on May 16, 2016. (Credit: Flash90)
Ultra orthodox jewish men carrying out Torah scrolls from a synagogue at the scene where a fire that broke at a warehouse in Givat Shaul neighborhood on May 16, 2016. (Credit: Flash90)
Ultra orthodox jewish men carrying out Torah scrolls from a synagogue at the scene where a fire that broke at a warehouse in Givat Shaul neighborhood on May 16, 2016. (Credit: Flash90)
Ultra orthodox jewish men carrying out Torah scrolls from a synagogue at the scene where a fire that broke at a warehouse in Givat Shaul neighborhood on May 16, 2016. (Credit: Flash90)
Ultra orthodox jewish men carrying out Torah scrolls from a synagogue at the scene where a fire that broke at a warehouse in Givat Shaul neighborhood on May 16, 2016. (Credit: Flash90)
Ultra orthodox jewish men carrying out Torah scrolls from a synagogue at the scene where a fire that broke at a warehouse in Givat Shaul neighborhood on May 16, 2016. (Credit: Flash90)
Ultra orthodox jewish men carrying out Torah scrolls from a synagogue at the scene where a fire that broke at a warehouse in Givat Shaul neighborhood on May 16, 2016. (Credit: Flash90)
Ultra orthodox jewish men carrying out Torah scrolls from a synagogue at the scene where a fire that broke at a warehouse in Givat Shaul neighborhood on May 16, 2016. (Credit: Flash90)
An Ultra orthodox jewish man carrying out torah books from a synagogue at the scene where a fire that broke at a warehouse in Givat Shaul neighborhood on May 16, 2016. (Credit: Flash90)
Police seen outside a synagogue at the scene where a fire that broke at a warehouse in Givat Shaul neighborhood on May 16, 2016. (Credit: Flash90)
View of a large fire that broke at a warehouse in Givat Shaul neighborhood on May 16, 2016. (Credit: Flash90)
Warehouse workers at the scene of a large fire that broke at a warehouse in Givat Shaul neighborhood on May 16, 2016. (Credit: Flash90)
A man walks at the scene of a large fire that broke at a warehouse in Givat Shaul neighborhood on May 16, 2016. (Credit: Flash90)
Firefighters at the scene of a large fire that broke at a warehouse in Givat Shaul neighborhood on May 16, 2016. (Credit: Flash90)
Firefighters at the scene of a large fire that broke at a warehouse in Givat Shaul neighborhood on May 16, 2016. (Credit: Flash90)
Firefighters run at the scene of a large fire that broke at a warehouse in Givat Shaul neighborhood on May 16, 2016. (Credit: Flash90)
Police block a road at the scene of a large fire that broke at a warehouse in Givat Shaul neighborhood on May 16, 2016. (Credit: Flash90)
View of a large fire that broke at a warehouse in Givat Shaul neighborhood on May 16, 2016. (Credit: Flash90)
Firefighters at the scene of a large fire that broke at a warehouse in Givat Shaul neighborhood on May 16, 2016. (Credit: Flash90)
Police at the scene of a large fire that broke at a warehouse in Givat Shaul neighborhood on May 16, 2016. (Credit: Flash90)
Police at the scene of a large fire that broke at a warehouse in Givat Shaul neighborhood on May 16, 2016. (Credit: Flash90)
