September 7th, 2024 – Since October 7th, rockets from Lebanon and debris from the Iron Dome’s interception rockets have ignited numerous fires in northern Israel. Firefighters have responded to 790 fire incidents since then.

In northern Israel alone, over 39,000 acres have been scorched, impacting farms, orchards, forests, infrastructure, wildlife habitats, and homes. Many of these areas have been severely damaged. This is particularly heartbreaking as the northern part of Israel, a cherished nature retreat for many Israelis, is not only home to numerous civilians but also features various nature reserves and hiking trails frequently visited by families seeking a getaway.

Timothy Wainwright, a brave firefighter from Australia— a country well-acquainted with wildfires—has stepped in to support Israel. Many will remember the devastating wildfires in Australia a few years ago, with images of koalas drinking from water bottles capturing global attention.

Through his organization, “Operation Fire Support,” Timothy Wainwright has brought a delegation to Israel to train and educate local communities on how to defend themselves against these wildfires during these challenging times.

Helping Hand Coalition was honored to participate in an event in Tel Aviv last week, where we heard firsthand testimonies from Israelis in northern Israel and near the Gaza Strip. They shared how their properties—both agricultural and residential—as well as their families’ lives, were saved and protected thanks to the firefighting training and preventive measures provided by Timothy Wainwright and Operation Fire Support.

It was also striking to hear about the tangible impact of their training. Properties that had undergone wildfire combat training were largely spared, while neighboring properties that had not received such training were unfortunately destroyed by the fires.

Operation Fire Support will be conducting briefings and fundraising events in Australia and the USA over the next couple of months. If you’re interested or know of any contacts who might be interested in partnering with them and helping raise funds, so they can return and train over 100 communities in Israel over the next year, please visit their website or contact us for more information.

Attending the event with teams from Australia and Israel of Operation Fire Support organization.

This event was led by Daniel Buchen, Timothy Wainwright, Ben Ridley, Uri Gabey, and others, with the participation of

• Australian Embassy
• Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs – the director of the Pacific department
• Australian Chamber of Commerce
• Australian Trade Office
• Israel Fire Department
• KKL
• Operation Fire Support, an Australian organization bringing support to Israel in such difficult times, is dedicated to improving safety in communities by:
• Providing & Improving Fire & Emergency Training, Education, Infrastructure & Resources,
• Improving Community Emergency Preparedness, Prevention & Resilience,
• Donating Equipment, Resources & Infrastructure,
• Conducting Community Safety Audits & Providing Emergency Improvement Plans & Emergency Management Plans.