Fire in Jerusalem's Mea She'arim neighborhood prompts mass emergency response

SEPTEMBER 23, 2026 18:18Updated: SEPTEMBER 23, 2026 18:48Firefighting teams are responding to an active fire that broke out in a residential building in the haredi (ultra-Orthodox) Mea She'arim neighborhood in Jerusalem.Police officers and medical personnel are on standby at the scene to provide immediate aid, though firefighters have ruled out there being any trapped residents in the building.Firefighters rescued several Torah scrolls from the burning structure. The scrolls sustained significant damage in the fire.Firefighter holding a burnt Torah scroll saved from a fire in the Mea Shearim neighborhood, September 23, 2026. (credit: Hershy Perlmutter, ISRAEL FIRE AND RESCUE AUTHORITY)"Firefighters acted decisively to tackle the intense fire in the temporary structure and conducted rapid searches that ruled out the presence of trapped people," said Incident Commander Deputy Chief Shai Nehemia. "During the operation, crews rescued several Torah scrolls from the flames. We are currently focusing our efforts on final extinguishment, and the incident is nearing containment."This is a developing story. Follow us on Google