Jerusalem - Several countries were sending firefighting planes to Israel on Thursday as crew members fought the next day to put out a wildfire that closed a major highway connecting Tel Aviv and Jerusalem and made the driver compete for it from the car.

Around noon Wednesday, the fire burned in hot, dry conditions and was fanned by strong winds, quickly whipping the flames burning in the pine forest. Several communities were evacuated as the smoke turned the gray sky of Jerusalem.

Tal Volvovitch, spokesman for Israel's fire and rescue authorities, said the fire destroyed about 5,000 acres (20 square kilometers) and was the most important firefighting Israel in the past decade. The fire "miraculously" did not damage any homes, she said.

Israel’s Fire and Rescue Authority warns the public to stay away from parks or forests and to take extra caution when lighting the barbecue. Thursday is Israel’s Independence Day, with large family cooking usually marked in parks and forests.

At least 12 people were treated in the hospital on Wednesday, mainly due to smoke inhalation, while another 10 were treated in the wild, Magen David David Adom ambulance said.

Italy, Croatia, Spain, France, Ukraine and Romania are sending planes to help put out the flames, while several other countries, including North Macedonia and Cyprus, are also sending water flow aircraft. Israeli authorities said 10 firefighting planes were in operation Thursday morning and another eight will arrive during the day.

Israel's fire and rescue authorities canceled the evacuation order in about 12 towns in the Jerusalem Hill on Thursday.

Latin residents spokesman Farid Jubran said three Catholic religious groups forced to evacuate from their properties on Wednesday were also able to return. He said their agricultural land, including vineyards and olive trees, suffered severe damage, and some of the buildings were damaged. But no injuries were taken, nor did the Historical Church suffer.

The main highway connecting Jerusalem to Tel Aviv was reopened Thursday, the second day after flames occupied the road, forcing drivers to abandon their cars and terrifyingly escape. On Thursday morning, numerous burned areas were visible on the highway, while pink flame-resistant flame retardant dust fell on top of burned trees and bushes. The smell of smoke and fire hangs in the air.

In 2010, a massive forest fire that burned four days in Mount Carmel in northern Israel claimed 44 lives and destroyed about 12,000 acres, most of which were woodland.