JERUSALEM (JTA) — Arson is believed to be the cause of several Jerusalem-area forest fires that have destroyed nearly 250 acres worth of trees.

Israeli fire-fighters on Saturday battled blazes in the forests of kibbutz Ma’ale HaHamisha near Jerusalem, which are believed to have been started by Molotov cocktail fire bombs hurled from a near-by Palestinian village. An investigation has been opened, according to Israel Police.

Some 17 teams of firefighters along with four fire-fighting aircraft were used to put out the blazes. .

The fires on Saturday come after a blaze on Thursday at the kibbutz and from Friday afternoon to Saturday morning in the woods near Kibbutz Tzora. In both cases, fragments of firebombs were found at the place believed to be the start of the fires.

There were no injuries in the fires.

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