Fire Erupts at Ohr Chaya Mushka Seminary, Students Evacuated

A large fire broke out at the Ohr Chaya Mushka Seminary in Yerushalayim this morning, with over 50 students initially evacuated to local hospitals, two of whom were in moderate condition. Firefighters swiftly brought the fire under control, and most students who were hospitalized have since been discharged.

By Anash.org Reporter

Early this morning, a large fire broke out at the Ohr Chaya Mushka Seminary building in Yerushalayim. According to reports, a staff member and a student sustained moderate injuries due to smoke inhalation, while several other students suffered minor injuries and are expected to return home later today.

Out of an abundance of caution, around fifty students were initially evacuated to three nearby hospitals for check-ups after inhaling large amounts of smoke. They have all since returned home.

A spokesperson for Israel Fire and Rescue Services in the Jerusalem District stated “Firefighters rescued dozens of individuals trapped in the dormitory fire. A total of 48 individuals were treated and evacuated by Magen David Adom (MDA) and United Hatzalah, some in critical condition, others with moderate or minor injuries. The firefighters have gained control over the fire, and no additional casualties or trapped individuals have been reported.”

Commander Shmuel Friedman of the Jerusalem District Fire and Rescue Services described the incident as “A significant and large-scale event with numerous casualties resulting from a fire at a central Jerusalem dormitory. The firefighters acted with great courage and determination, saving the lives of many trapped individuals.”

The fire is suspected to have been caused by an electrical short circuit, according to reports. The Jerusalem District Fire and Rescue Services, in cooperation with the Israel Police, has launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the fire.

The administration of the seminary Ohr Chaya issued the following statement, obtained by Anash.org “A large fire broke out in the Chaya Mushka Seminary building, situated on David Yellin Street in Jerusalem. As a result, twelve students were evacuated to Shaare Zedek Medical Center in the city. Staff members from the seminary are present at the hospital, providing necessary support and care to the students.”

“The families of all affected students have been informed of the situation, and an emergency operations center has been established to manage the incident. We are working tirelessly to find alternative solutions for the students due to the damage caused to the building. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the emergency and rescue teams for their dedicated efforts and continue to pray for better days ahead.”

In an interview with Israel’s Channel 12, a student recounted her harrowing experience: “A friend of mine woke me up because she smelled smoke. She woke us all up. We are five in the room, and you can’t get out of our window. We opened the door, but smoke came in, so we closed it. I wanted to call firefighters but couldn’t even remember the number. We opened the window, and people told us to get out. We couldn’t see anything—there was smoke everywhere. We couldn’t tell if it was just smoke or [smoke with] fire, but we all held hands and just got out.”

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