Criminal investigation won’t be opened into Carmel fire

Published on December 27, 2010

Israel's attorney general will not open a criminal investigation into the Carmel fire.

Out of the ashes

Published on December 8, 2010

In the aftermath of the deadliest fire in Israel’s history, Israelis this week set to the task of burying the dead, cleaning up and figuring out what exactly went wrong — and who is to blame.

In fire’s wake, lessons learned, friendships found

Published on December 8, 2010

First, of course, are the dead and the injured. Almost all of them young, in a training program for prison guards, trapped in a bus, incinerated. Who by fire? That, says the prayer, God decides: “On Rosh Hashanah it is inscribed, and on Yom Kippur it is sealed: How many shall pass away and how many shall be born, who shall live and who shall die, who in the fullness of time and who before his time, who shall perish by water and who by fire, who by sword and who by wild beast, who by famine and who by thirst, who by earthquake and who by plague, who by strangulation and who by stoning, who shall have rest and who shall wander, who shall be at peace and who shall be pursued, who shall be at rest and who shall be tormented, who shall be exalted and who shall be brought low, who shall become rich and who shall be impoverished. But repentance, prayer and righteousness transform the severity of the decree.”

Displaced children face renewed trauma

By Julie Gruenbaum Fax
Published on December 8, 2010

A standout among the many tragedies of the Carmel fires is the severe damage to the Yemin Orde Youth Village in Northern Israel, which has displaced all of its residents — nearly 500 children originally from Ethiopia, the former Soviet Union and other countries, as well as Israeli-born children who moved to the school from dysfunctional homes. The fire destroyed nearly 20 buildings, including the library, children’s homes, some classrooms, staff housing and a special unit for the youngest children, and many other buildings were damaged on the 77-acre campus atop Mount Carmel.

Report: Fire services are Israel’s weak link

Published on December 8, 2010

The Fire and Rescue Services organization is the weak link in Israel's emergency readiness, a report said.

Netanyahu, Peres honor foreign rescue workers

Published on December 7, 2010

Israeli President Shimon Peres and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu honored foreign rescue and fire fighting delegations that assisted in putting out the Carmel Forest fire.

Teen who admitted starting fire is released

Published on December 7, 2010

The teen arrested after admitting to starting the Carmel Forest fire was released from police custody to house arrest.

Israel fire update: Uncontrolled, 42 dead, 17,000 evacuated

Published on December 3, 2010

The fire raging in northern Israel was still out of control as the sun set on Friday, with 42 people reported dead.