Petah Tikva Mall Site Fire Burns for Hours With No Control Achieved

A large fire broke out Saturday afternoon in the underground parking garage of the future BIG shopping complex construction site in Petah Tikva, where plastic fittings and piping were stored. Many firefighting crews battled the blaze for hours, and Fire and Rescue said late Saturday that control had still not been achieved, with teams operating in several sectors while ventilating the garage. Heavy smoke closed the Ze'ev Jabotinsky and Moshe Dayan arteries, and the public was asked to stay away; Moshe Dayan later reopened, while one lane on Jabotinsky stayed shut. Police said the cause remained unclear and that all lines of inquiry, including suspected arson, were being examined.