Havat Gilad Blaze Contained as Probe Points to Discarded Cigarette

Firefighters brought the Havat Gilad wildfire under control on Saturday evening after a daylong operation involving crews from across Israel, according to a joint update from Fire and Rescue, police and the IDF. A special investigative team said its initial finding traced the blaze to a single ignition point caused by a cigarette butt thrown from a vehicle beside the road. IDF and police forces were searching for the vehicle. Earlier reports said residents were evacuated, more than 15 structures were damaged, two firefighters were injured, and roads remained restricted during the response.