Israel unprepared for wildfires as risks grow, comptroller warns

These fires, and many others in recent years, were amplified by extreme weather and, in northern Israel, by wartime missile strikes igniting dry terrain.

By Sveta Listratov, TPS

Despite a rising threat of wildfires, Israeli preparedness is inadequate, said a report released by the State Comptroller on Tuesday.

“The 33,500 wildfires recorded in 2024, alongside the fact that the government has funded fire buffer zones in only nine out of 81 high-risk areas, reflect a serious failure in Israel’s preparedness for wildfire outbreaks,” State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman wrote on the report’s findings.

The State Comptroller, also known as the State Ombudsman, periodically releases reports auditing Israeli preparedness and the effectiveness of government policies.

Since the devastating fires of 2016, which burned over 41,000 dunams (41 sq. km) of land and caused hundreds of millions of shekels in damages, Israeli authorities have repeatedly pledged to bolster local preparedness.

But the 2025 follow-up audit shows that most of the promised regulatory tools — including binding safety protocols and designated “buffer zones” between communities and forests — have never been formally approved or funded.

The government did launch a national program in 2022, allocating NIS 65 million ($19.4 million) over five years to reduce wildfire risk in high-threat zones.

But only one-third of the required funding has materialized, and so far, just nine out of 81 top-risk areas have received support.

Meanwhile, local municipalities are expected to handle the risk on their own — without clear authority or sufficient budgets, Englman reportd.

In April 2025 alone, fires in the Judean Hills scorched nearly 30,000 dunams (30 sq. km). Firefighters reported multiple injuries and extensive environmental damage.

These fires, and many others in recent years, were amplified by extreme weather and, in northern Israel, by wartime missile strikes igniting dry terrain.

According to the Fire and Rescue Authority, over 200,000 dunams (200 sq. km) of forest and brush burned during the current war period.

“The blaze on Independence Day was a glaring warning sign — we were one step away from a major disaster,” Englman noted.

Experts say this convergence of threats — hotter temperatures, drier seasons, and security-linked fires — demands immediate, coordinated action.

Yet comptroller’s report painted a picture of bureaucratic gridlock: the Fire Authority has no power to enforce its own safety guidelines, and ministries keep deflecting responsibility over budget constraints.

Englman warned that further delays in formalizing and funding fire prevention measures could cost lives and devastate entire communities.

“The Prime Minister, the Minister of National Security, and the Minister of the Interior must draw the necessary lessons and ensure that all relevant bodies are fully prepared,” saida the report.