Biggest-Ever Israeli Forest Fire

Extensive flames approach the town of Tirat Hacarmel, northern Israel, Thursday, Dec. 2, 2010. A massive forest fire that scorched part of northern Israel killed scores of people Thursday, officials said. Fire officials said the blaze, which torched some 800 acres (325 hectares), remained out of control as nightfall arrived. (AP Photo/Dan Balilty)

Extensive flames approach the town of Tirat Hacarmel, northern Israel, Thursday, Dec. 2, 2010. A massive forest fire that scorched part of northern Israel killed scores of people Thursday, officials said. Fire officials said the blaze, which torched some 800 acres (325 hectares), remained out of control as nightfall arrived. (AP Photo/Dan Balilty)

Firefighters extinguish an extensive fire in Tirat Hacarmel, northern Israel, Thursday, Dec. 2, 2010. A massive forest fire that scorched part of northern Israel killed scores of people Thursday, officials said. Fire officials said the blaze, which torched some 800 acres (325 hectares), remained out of control as nightfall arrived. (AP Photo/Dan Balilty)

Firefighters try to prevent a widfire from reaching the town of Tirat Hacarmel, northern Israel, Thursday, Dec. 2, 2010. A massive forest fire that scorched part of northern Israel killed scores of people Thursday, officials said. Fire officials said the blaze, which torched some 800 acres (325 hectares), remained out of control as nightfall arrived. (AP Photo/Dan Balilty)

Firefighters walk near an extensive fire in Tirat Hacarmel, northern Israel, Thursday, Dec. 2, 2010. A massive forest fire that scorched part of northern Israel killed scores of people Thursday, officials said. Fire officials said the blaze, which torched some 800 acres (325 hectares), remained out of control as nightfall arrived. (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner)

Firefighters extinguish an extensive fire in Tirat Hacarmel, northern Israel, Thursday, Dec. 2, 2010. A massive forest fire that scorched part of northern Israel killed scores of people Thursday, officials said. Fire officials said the blaze, which torched some 800 acres (325 hectares), remained out of control as nightfall arrived. (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner)

A burnt out bus is seen near kibbutz Beit Oren, Thursday, Dec. 2, 2010. The bus burst into flames as it raced to an Israeli prison during a massive forest fire Thursday, killing dozens of prison guards participating in the rescue mission, officials said, in one of the deadliest accidents in the nation's history. (AP Photo/Yaron Kaminsky)

A burnt bus is seen near kibbutz Beit Oren, Thursday, Dec. 2, 2010. The bus burst into flames as it raced to an Israeli prison during a massive forest fire Thursday, killing dozens of prison guards participating in the rescue mission, officials said, in one of the deadliest accidents in the nation's history. (AP Photo/Avishag Shar Yeshuv)

Flames approach houses in kibbutz Beit Oren in northern Israel, Thursday, Dec. 2, 2010. A massive forest fire that scorched part of northern Israel killed scores of people Thursday, officials said. Fire officials said the blaze, which torched some 800 acres (325 hectares), remained out of control as nightfall arrived. (AP Photo/Yaron Kaminsky)

Vehicles drive on a road during a wildfire in the Carmel Heights near Haifa, northern Israel, Thursday, Dec. 2, 2010. A massive forest fire that scorched part of northern Israel killed scores of people Thursday, officials said. Fire officials said the blaze, which torched some 800 acres (325 hectares), remained out of control as nightfall arrived. (AP Photo/Avishag Shar Yeshuv)