Large fire breaks out in Israel's north, traffic blocked

A large fire broke out in the area of ​​Gesher Arik in Israel's north on Friday, Hebrew media reported. 

Eight fire crews were deployed to extinguish the blaze. Winds have made the scenario more challenging for the firefighting teams, who have yet to manage to assert control over the situation.

Additionally, traffic was blocked on Highway 87 due to a heavy layer of smoke. The highway runs next to the Sea of Galilee and continues north into the Golan Heights.

Israel Fire and Rescue said, "At 2:35 pm, a message was received at Moked 102 about a fire in an open area at Gesher Arik on Route 87. Eight fire crews from the Galilee-Golan station rushed to the scene, along with KKL-JNF, the Nature and Parks Authority, and the 'Elad' fire brigade."

Later, Walla reported the fire as having broken out across seven different locations near the Jordan Park and that the public has been advised to avoid the area.

The fire is disrupting power supply

Additionally, the electric company told Walla that disruptions to the area's electric supply had occurred and were the result of the fire's proximity to power lines.

Later in the evening on Friday, the manager of the Golan Forestry Block, Itamar Katz, announced that the crisis was almost resolved, but that the Park would nevertheless be closed on Saturday.

"We are nearing the end of putting out the big fire that enveloped Jordan Park," Katz said. "Tomorrow, the Jordan Park is closed to visitors - the public is asked to obey the instructions and not come," he added.