A massive wildfire ignited and rapidly swept through the pioneering community of Havat Gilad in Samaria on July 18, 2026 destroying over two dozen homes and severely damaging dozens of other structures, including homes and businesses. In a matter of hours, countless years of hard work, sacrifice, and dreams for many families of Havat Gilad were reduced to ashes.

“Now these families have to start over from scratch,” said Shira Shaked from the scene of the devastation.

One resident, Aryeh Libkow, had just moved to Havat Gilad when the fire consumed his entire home and all his belongings. Yet despite losing everything, he remains steadfast in his faith and determination to rebuild.

Emergency responders from nearby communities rushed to Havat Gilad to help battle the flames and evacuate more than 100 families to safety. Miraculously, there were no fatalities or injuries. Notably, many of the firefighting tools and emergency response equipment used during the operation had been provided through the generosity of CFOIC Heartland donors.

“Several communities that came to help came with the equipment that you and other CFOIC Heartland donors helped buy,” Shira noted. “Thanks to you, lives were saved!”

Israeli police have arrested two Palestinians suspected of involvement in the fire, which investigators say was caused by a cigarette butt. The devastation in Havat Gilad serves as a sobering reminder of how quickly a single fire, even kindled by something as small as a cigarette, can destroy a community. The faster emergency responders arrive on the scene, the greater the chance of containing the flames before they spread and, most importantly, rescuing people to safety.

Just over a month ago, the Meitarim Industrial Zone in the Hebron Hills narrowly escaped a similar catastrophe.

“That was a very close one,” said Michael Chernik, chief security coordinator for the Hebron Hills. “We CANNOT afford to rely on such good fortune.”

Michael and his team of emergency responders work around the clock to protect the pioneers of the Hebron Hills, who live in small communities surrounded by hostile Arab villages and cities. The responsibility they carry is immense, especially during the scorching summer months. As Havat Gilad painfully demonstrated this past weekend, the intense heat and dry, rainless conditions allow even a small fire to spread with frightening speed.

“Terror has many faces, and arson is only one of them,” Michael added.
Surveillance cameras confirmed that the fire outside the Meitarim Industrial Zone was deliberately ignited by a terrorist using a flammable device.

“Had the fire spread to the industrial zone, a number of businesses could have been inoperable for a long time, affecting the economy of the entire region,” Michael noted.
Michael and his team stand ready to respond at a moment’s notice. Yet they, along with emergency response teams throughout the Biblical Heartland, remain critically under-equipped and urgently need additional firefighting equipment.

“There is really no such thing as having too much firefighting equipment at this time of year,” Michael stressed. “The more equipment we have, the more effective our responses will be and the better chance we will have at protecting the communities of the Hebron Hills.”

The tragedy in Havat Gilad is a powerful reminder of the ever-present threat posed by fast-moving wildfires and acts of arson terror. YOU can help prevent another community from suffering the same devastation by equipping under-equipped emergency response teams with the firefighting equipment they urgently need. Please give TODAY to help families in Havat Gilad rebuild and to protect families in the Biblical Heartland!