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Forest fires erupted in several locations across northern and central Israel yesterday.

Several neighbourhoods in Zichron Ya’akov were evacuated, with at least ten homes destroyed according to Israel Radio. At least eight people, including several children were taken for treatment for smoke inhalation. YNet reported that eight planes and 40 vehicles were used to tackle the fire, which was still ablaze this morning.

Two people were treated yesterday for smoke inhalation after another fire broke out near the West Bank community of Dolev. The fire was brought under control this morning. A third fire near the city of Nahariya, close to the Lebanese border was extinguished by four firefighting crews this morning.

In the town of Atlit, near Haifa, around 200 schoolchildren were evacuated yesterday from a school as a precautionary measure, according to Israel Hayom. Fires were also reported in nearby Nesher and Hadera, while a large blaze in the Upper Galillee, near Horfish was contained with no threat to local residents.

On Monday night, a major blaze near Beit Shemesh caused the overnight evacuation of the Neve Shalom co-existence community. Residents were allowed back to their homes after the flames were successfully beaten back. An estimated 150 acres of nearby brush land was destroyed.

The fires are thought to be the result of unseasonably dry conditions and high winds. However, there is some suspicion that some of the fires have been caused due to neglect or even intended damage.

In 2010, Israel suffered its worst ever fire, when huge sections of the northern Carmel Forest were destroyed. Forty four people were killed in the massive blaze.