Nations race to aid Israel fighting fire

JERUSALEM – From Jordanian firefighters to Greek aircraft, a rare outpouring of international support for Israel helped the nation battle its worst-ever forest fire Friday, but the blaze continued to rage out of control.

The death toll was revised to at least 41 people, according to Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld. They included 36 prison guards whose bus was engulfed in flames Thursday as they rushed to help evacuate a nearby prison.

Four other rescue workers remain missing, Rosenfeld said. Nearly 7,000 acres have been burned and 17,000 people evacuated near the port city of Haifa.

Responding to an appeal by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Bulgaria and Jordan sent firefighters; Cyprus, Greece, Russia and the U.S. dispatched aircraft to ferry water and chemical retardant; Britain sent helicopters; and additional assistance came from Spain, Azerbaijan, Romania and Egypt, government officials said.

“This attests to the unprecedented international response to our appeal for international help and it is very important to Israel in every possible aspect,” Netanyahu said during an emergency Cabinet meeting in Tel Aviv.

Fire officials hoped to have the blaze under control during the weekend.

Turkey sent two planes to assist in the emergency effort, despite the strained relations between the countries since May, when Israeli commandoes killed nine Turkish activists trying to break Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza Strip.

“We very much appreciate this mobilization and I am certain that it will be an opening toward improving relations between our two countries,” Netanyahu said of Turkey’s help.