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Around 80,000 people were told to leave their homes yesterday as fires raged in northern and central Israel for a third day.

The major northern city of Haifa was worst hit, with 11 neighbourhoods evacuated. Fires broke out initially near the city’s Paz Bridge. Additional fires were then reported near the city’s bay and stadium. The police ordered that schools and public buildings be immediately closed. Around 115 fire engines were deployed across the city and at least 100 people were taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation.

The Jerusalem area was also badly impacted, as fire crews battled to protect Highway One near Neve Ilan and key electricity installations. The blaze spread to the Modi’in area, where train stations were closed after fire spread to a station car park.

Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan confirmed eight arrests on suspicion of arson. The Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) also confirmed that it is investigating the fires to determine whether they are the result of arson.

According to police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld: “We’re looking into the background of the fires today to see if they were deliberate or not, and searching for and questioning suspects about whom we received reports of suspicious activity, who fled the areas after the fires began.”

A statement released by authorities, read: “The Shin Bet along with the police have detained several suspects who were taken in for questioning in connection with possible arson fires that affected multiple places areas across the country.”

Additional fires broke out near a power station in Hadera, close to the central cities of Beit Shemesh and Rishon Le Zion, near Umm al-Fahm, Carmiel, Yuvalim, Misgav and elsewhere.

This morning, 13 fires were still reported to be burning. The Jerusalem-area community of Beit Meir was evacuated overnight and residents taken to nearby Shoresh.

With Israel’s fire services stretched, several countries including Cyprus, Russia, Italy, Croatia and Greece sent equipment, including aircraft, to help tackle the blazes.

Israel accepted the Palestinian Authority’s offer to send four firefighting crews to aid the effort. Today, an American ‘supertanker’ is expected to arrive in Israel to help extinguish the fires.

Although dry conditions and high winds are thought to have been responsible for much of the flames, Israeli leaders said yesterday that many of the fires were thought to have been caused by arson.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: “Every fire that was the result of arson or incitement to arson is terror in every way and we’ll treat it as such.”