Investigators believe negligence, not arson, caused wildfire in the north

Two male residents of Daliat al-Carmel were released on Friday after having earlier been arrested on the suspicion that they had attempted to ignite fires in the Carmel hills region. After being questioned by police, it became clear that the two were not responsible for the acts they were suspected of. The initial inquiry conducted by fire investigators has pointed to negligence, not arson, as the cause of the largest wildfire in Israeli history.

[additional-authors]

Jewish Journal

December 3, 2010

Two male residents of Daliat al-Carmel were released on Friday after having earlier been arrested on the suspicion that they had attempted to ignite fires in the Carmel hills region.

After being questioned by police, it became clear that the two were not responsible for the acts they were suspected of.

The initial inquiry conducted by fire investigators has pointed to negligence, not arson, as the cause of the largest wildfire in Israeli history.

According to the investigation, the wildfire started at one location west of Ussifiya. It is believed that household trash and tires that had been discarded in the area caught on fire and the fire spread. Investigators are looking into what exactly caused the trash to ignite.