The Question Is Not If, but When: Israel Is Not Prepared for the Next Major Fire

Environmental organizations warn that Israel is not prepared for major fires, citing a shortage of 977 firefighters, 163 fire trucks, and 32 stations. They call for a national plan and a budget of about 160 million shekels to build a dedicated force for open areas, and claim that fire damage is estimated at over 3.5 billion shekels.

Environmental organizations are warning the government that Israel is not prepared for major fires and are calling for a comprehensive national plan. According to data from the Fire and Rescue Commission as of the end of 2025, the system is short 977 firefighters, 163 fire trucks, and 32 stations, and therefore is not prepared for the 2018 reference scenario of three simultaneous major fires. The organizations demand the allocation of a focused budget of about 160 million shekels to build a dedicated force for open areas, and claim that fire damage in open areas is estimated at over 3.5 billion shekels. They emphasize that major fires are not just the result of a spark, but of a lack of adequate preparedness, and that Israel has the knowledge, professionals, and technologies, but lacks a clear national plan and its implementation. Additionally, they warn of a lack of technological tools for risk prediction and monitoring, and the absence of a definition and dedicated budget for open areas. The fires endanger human life, destroy habitats and natural areas, cause economic damage to agriculture and local authorities, and emit amounts of carbon that accelerate the climate crisis.