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JERUSALEM, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- Immense fires spread to Haifa on Thursday, and Israel's government requested international assistance to put out a three-day wave of forest fires across the country.
Haifa district Fire and Rescue Services Spokesman Uri Chibotero said that fires erupted in at least six areas in Haifa, Israel's third-largest city, including in two residential neighborhoods and an old junk yard in downtown Haifa.
The flames broke out amidst exceptionally dry and windy weather and forced thousands out of their homes in the neighborhoods of Romema and Sapir as well as Haifa University.
In addition, the municipality transferred hundreds of pupils from nearby kindergartens and schools to alternative schools.
Meanwhile, live television broadcasts showed heavy smoke spreading to nearby neighborhoods as residents ran out of their apartments carrying bags or pets.
A statement released by the Prime Minister's Office said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin asking for assistance.
Putin told Netanyahu he will send two B-200 planes, each of them can carry 13,000 liters of water and flame retardants, according to the statement.
Firefighting planes from Croatia, Greece, Cyprus, and Italy are also expected to land at a military base in Israel on Thursday, following the government's request for international help.
Local media reported that Turkey, with its renewed diplomatic relations with Israel since June, also offered assistance.
Rain shortage since the start of winter, as well as days of very dry air and strong easterly winds further stoked the fire, spreading it across central and northern Israel.
The fires started on Tuesday near Neve Shalom, a community between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, forcing the evacuation of the entire community.
More forest fires spread to dozens of other regions from Jerusalem to Nahariya, Israel's northernmost coastal city.
According to Magen David Adom, Israel's medical emergency service, at least 21 people, including five toddlers, needed medical care for smoke inhalation.
There were no reports of serious injuries however.
MetaoTech weather service said the dry and windy weather conditions are expected to continue until the beginning of next week.
Police Spokeswoman Luba Samri said police forces are still investigating if the fires were caused by arson.
In 2010, a massive forest fire in the Carmel ridge in northern Israel broke out amidst similar weather conditions and raged for days, killing 42 people.
The media back then harshly criticized Netanyahu for procrastinating in asking for international assistance.
The incident lead to a reform in firefighting services, including establishing an airborne firefighting squadron.
