Officials predicted that it may take decades to rehabilitate the area, which had been hit by a number of previous smaller fires in recent years.
In one of the most devastating fires to hit the Jerusalem area in decades, a blaze that flamed for much of the week destroyed nearly 2,500 hectares (6,000 acres) as of Wednesday.
The huge wildfire broke out near the capital on Sunday, burning down hundreds of hectares of forest and brush land and endangering nearby communities. High temperatures and strong winds helped the fire spread fast to the west of the capital.
Huge clouds of black smoke could be seen over Jerusalem on Sunday and Monday, and there was a smokey smell in the air throughout the city. As the large blazes began rapidly spreading towards nearby towns on Monday afternoon, emergency forces began evacuating hundreds of residents from Shoeva, Givat Ye’arim, Kibbutz Tzova, Ein Rafa and Ein Nakuba. About 2,000 residents were temporarily evacuated from their homes.
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