Forest Fire Prompts Evacuation of Israel Museum

A forest fire erupted in Jerusalem’s Valley of the Cross on Sunday, leading to the precautionary evacuation of the nearby Israel Museum.

Battling scorching temperatures of 34°C (93°F), eight firefighting planes and 23 firefighting crews worked tirelessly to contain the blaze.

While the roof of a youth building at the museum suffered some damage, a museum spokesperson confirmed that the fire was "under control" and no archaeological or artistic works were harmed.

Significantly, neither the historic Monastery of the Cross nor the Knesset building faced any danger from the fire. The Monastery of the Cross, dating back to the 11th century, is revered by Christians as the site where the tree used to make the cross on which Jesus was crucified was felled.

The Israel Museum, a premier institution for archaeology, Judaica, and art in Israel, houses many treasured artifacts, including the Dead Sea Scrolls, the oldest known biblical manuscripts.

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