Israel fires largely controlled after mass evacuationsThis garden shop in Mesilat Zion was left charred and in ruinsAuthorities said hot and dry conditions, with strong winds, made controlling the fires more challenging, and a senior official warned they could flare up again. Fires that have ravaged large parts of central Israel since Wednesday have largely been extinguished, the country's Fire and Rescue Authority says. "I've been in the service for 24 years, and I've been through many fires," said Shlomi Harush, a deputy commander of Ayalon fire station. "There's no doubt that this is one of the toughest fires I've seen." Israeli President Isaac Herzog said the fires were "part of the climate crisis, which must not be ignored".