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JERUSALEM — A fire service investigation into the devastating wildfires that scorched the hills surrounding Jerusalem earlier this month has reportedly concluded that the blazes were not caused by arson, but rather by a flare-up from an earlier wildfire, debunking widespread speculation that the fires were deliberately set by Palestinian arsonists.
The findings, revealed Tuesday by Israeli news outlet Ynet, suggest the fires that erupted around Memorial Day reignited from smoldering tree roots left over from a wildfire that broke out on Holocaust Remembrance Day — approximately one week earlier.
According to a former senior Fire and Rescue Service official, such reignitions are not uncommon. “Tree roots often smolder beneath the surface for weeks after a fire,” he told Ynet. “Strong winds can feed the fire with oxygen and reignite the ground.” He added that fire crews should continue to monitor affected areas for up to two weeks post-fire to prevent new outbreaks.
The investigation results appear to contradict claims made by several Israeli political figures and right-wing media outlets, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who suggested during an Independence Day speech — as fires were still raging — that the blazes were acts of nationalist arson. Netanyahu stated that police had arrested 18 individuals suspected of intentionally setting the fires.
That figure was later refuted by law enforcement officials, who clarified that only three arrests had been made in connection with the incidents, and none had been charged with committing arson.
One of the detainees, a 19-year-old from East Jerusalem’s Issawiya neighborhood, was held after celebrating the fires on social media and encouraging others to commit similar acts. However, he was not suspected of actually starting any fires.
Another individual, 63-year-old Riyad Abu Tir, was apprehended while reportedly carrying flammable materials, including a lighter, tissues, and cotton wool. Police publicized a photo of the items as evidence. Nevertheless, Abu Tir’s attorney argued that his client had gone to the area to smoke and had been carrying a pipe and tobacco at the time of his arrest. He was released to house arrest shortly afterward.
The Fire and Rescue Service, which typically refrains from publicizing internal investigation outcomes, declined to confirm or deny the report when contacted by Ynet. The lack of an official statement leaves room for continued political debate, although the investigative team’s findings strongly challenge the initial arson narrative.
Environmental officials have long warned about the potential for flare-ups in forested areas following wildfires, particularly during Israel’s dry and windy spring season. Experts note that residual heat trapped underground in tree stumps and roots can reignite fires days or even weeks after the initial blaze, especially if not adequately extinguished.
As cleanup efforts continue in the Jerusalem hills, the revelation has sparked calls for more robust post-fire monitoring and better communication between firefighting authorities and the public to prevent misinformation during national emergencies.