Bet Shemesh, Israel - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned on Wednesday that rapid spread of wildfires near Jerusalem could reach the city as he declared the situation a “national emergency”.

When firefighters hurriedly controlled several injuries and prompted the army to deploy troops and other resources to help, thick smoke rolled over the highway near Jerusalem.

Israel's David Adom Rescue Agency reported hundreds of civilians were at risk of the worst brushes in years.

The MDA said it provided treatment for about 23 people, 13 of whom were taken to hospital, most of whom suffered from inhalation and burns. It added that there were two pregnant women and two babies under one year old.

It said the alert level has been raised to the highest level.

"It's really sad because we know the weather, we know it will happen, and we still feel that they are not ready enough to drip a lot of water."

Netanyahu warned: "The west wind can easily push fire to the outskirts of (Jerusalem) and even into the city itself."

"We need as many fire trucks as possible and create firers outside the current line of fire ... we are in a national emergency now, not just a local emergency," he added in a video statement. "The priority now is to defend Jerusalem."

Police closed the Aviv Expressway in Jerusalem (Jerusalem Thailand) and evacuated residents along the route, and ships broke out again a week ago in an area hit by fire a week ago. A community of thousands of people has been cleared.

"A lot of police arrived, a lot of firefighters, but it didn't really help. The fire has completely occupied the entire area," student Yosef Aaron told AFP.

Fire Chief Eyal Caspi warned at a television press conference: "Due to weather conditions, our planes can't do anything now... Our goal is to save lives".

“We obviously face the biggest fire in Israel in a decade.”

Police said on X that they had deployed around the Aviv Expressway in Jerusalem-Tel and around the Jerusalem hills, asking the public to "avoid going to the area."

Earlier on Wednesday, an AFP reporter at the scene said the fire was passing through a forest area near the main road between Latrun and Bet Shemesh and helicopters were working to put out the flames.

Soldiers arrived at the scene in the afternoon, and many drivers gave up their vehicles and fled the fire.

The IDF said in a statement that since Wednesday, along with the search and rescue brigade in Jerusalem and a regional force, “working directly with firefighters in the Jerusalem Hill”.

"Double engineering vehicles started operating nationwide overnight to form a line of fire to prevent the fire from spreading to other areas," the IDF said.

Israeli media reported that the community, about 19 miles west of Jerusalem, was evacuated, playing images of fire brigades fighting fierce flames.

National Security Minister Itama Ben Gvir hinted that the arson could be a laggard in the fire. Police said they arrested a resident of East Jerusalem, who was arrested "attempted to burn a field in the south of the city."

There is no official statement directly contacting both.

Ben GVIR said police will arrest anyone who is "involved in the terror of arson" while also monitoring the unrest.

The ambulance team has been positioned near the community close to the fire and is ready to provide medical care and assist residents, MDA said.

Police said in a statement that high temperatures and strong winds caused the fires to spread rapidly in the forest area, prompting at least five communities to evacuate.

Ben GVIR, who oversees Israel’s fire department, visited the affected areas, which are prone to wildfires this time of year.

He said in a video statement that work is being completed to provide more assistance to affected areas and to evacuate stranded civilians.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has contacted nearby countries such as Greece, Cyprus, Croatia, Italy and Bulgaria for assistance.

French President Emmanuel Macron expressed solidarity with Israel and provided "material support" in his post on X.

Netanyahu's office said three planes will arrive from Italy and Croatia soon to help put out the fire.

With the staffing extension, Ben GVIR said he had instructed organizers to cancel any evening activities related to Thursday’s Independence Day celebrations that would require firefighters to be present.

"The decision is intended to redistribute troops to deal with the fires ... and prepare for worsening weather as expected," a statement said.