Firefighting and Rescue

In the summer of 2024, Hezbollah rocket and drone attacks caused wildfires across northern ISrael, resulting in extensive damage to homes, national parks, and agricultural land. Although not a new phenomenon in Israel, fires caused by rockets are significantly larger, more intense, and faster moving than typical wildfires.  Hundreds of small communities who did not have dedicated fire squads and whose local emergency first responder teams did not have equipment to effectively fight fires of this intensity or scale were left defenseless.  Especially as much of the region was designated as closed military zones, making fires even more difficult to access.

Brothers & Sisters for Israel (BSI) stepped up to help. They partnered with Israel Fire + Rescue Service and regional councils to swiftly equip civilian first responder teams with essential gear - personal protection kits, blowers, hoses, rescue kits, and more - ensuring that the emergency teams were equipped to handle the escalating crisis. Based on expert assessments of needs and existing resources, BSI volunteers coordinated distribution to some 265 communities and professional training for more than 2000 volunteers

The results speak for themselves. The Israel Nature and Parks Authority estimates that the damage caused by fires in Northern Israel impacted 223,000 dunams (almost 5,700 acres) of land. And yet despite this environmental nightmare,  no injuries or fatalities were reported.

This outcome underscores the critical role of the trained, well-equipped squads in mitigating what could have been a far greater tragedy. Moreover in terms of residents’ sense of safety and resilience, we received countless messages of gratitude. These messages emphasized not only the practical assistance provided but also the emotional reassurance that residents were cared for and not forgotten during this crisis.

Albert Kobi, Security Officer for Israel’s Jordan Valley Council, expressed this as follows:

“You didn’t just provide life-saving equipment, you also strengthened the sense of security and care for the people on the ground.”