Old Video Of A Wildfire In Jerusalem Is Going Viral As A Recent Incident.

Recently, a video of a massive fire and smoke near a highway went viral on social media. Sharing the video, users claimed that the incident took place in Jerusalem on March 26, 2026. Sharing the video on Instagram, a user wrote, “BREAKING: Major Incident Near Jerusalem

Chaos unfolded today on the Latrun road heading toward Jerusalem as a massive fire and heavy smoke plume sent motorists fleeing on foot.

What We Know So Far:

* The Scene: Traffic has come to a complete standstill on the main artery into the city. Drivers and passengers are seen abandoning their vehicles and walking along the highway to escape the encroaching smoke.

* Emergency Response: Israeli emergency services and police are on the scene, attempting to manage the crowd and secure the area.

* The Cause: While the exact cause of the fire/explosion hasn’t been officially confirmed, the scale of the smoke suggests a significant event near the roadside or adjacent forest area.

⚠️ ADVISORY: Avoid Highway 1 and the Latrun interchange area. Expect extreme delays and follow all instructions from local authorities.”

Instagram Link | Archived Link 

However, upon investigation, we discovered that the claim was misleading. The viral video is old. Here’s the fact check.

Fact Check 

We started our investigation by taking screenshots from the viral video and conducting a reverse image search. This led us to a report published on April 30, 2025, that contained a photo similar to the screenshots from the viral video.

The report read, “Israel has raised its emergency alert to the highest level and appealed for international assistance as fast-spreading wildfires erupted in the hills west of Jerusalem on Wednesday.

Footage shared on social media showed drivers fleeing on foot as flames and thick black smoke loomed in the distance.

The Fire and Rescue Services said about 120 teams from across the country, supported by firefighting planes and helicopters, were deployed to contain the flames, and another 22 teams were on their way.

Five communities were evacuated, and others were instructed to prepare for possible evacuation. A section of the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway was closed by the police.

The Magen David Adom medical emergency service said in a statement that medics were treating 12 people for mild smoke inhalation, including two babies.

Fire and Rescue Authority Commissioner Eyal Caspi said he had activated the fire service’s national emergency plans and raised the alert level to its highest, Xinhua news agency reported. “Following a situational assessment, firefighting teams were being mobilized from all districts nationwide,” he said.

Eyal Cohen, Deputy Commander of the Jerusalem District of the Fire and Rescue Authority, said Israel had requested firefighting assistance from regional neighbours. State-owned Kan TV reported that the countries include Greece, Cyprus, Croatia, and Italy.

The Israel Defense Forces said the military has sent forces to firefighting and evacuation, adding that “aerial support has also been deployed to provide a real-time operational picture.”

Unseasonably high temperatures of around 35 degrees Celsius, combined with wind gusts of up to 70 km per hour, were fanning the flames and complicating firefighting efforts, officials said.

As Israel marks Memorial Day for fallen soldiers from sunset, April 29, to nightfall, April 30 this year, ceremonies at the Latrun Armored Corps Memorial were cancelled due to the wildfire. The Defence Ministry urged the public to avoid traveling to military cemeteries, where tens of thousands are expected to gather for commemorative events.”

We found a report published in CNN World on April 30, 2025, that contained the viral video. 

According to the report, the video shows a wildfire in Jerusalem on April 30, 2025.

A video report on the official YouTube channel of the Hindustan Times on May 1, 2025, can be seen below.

This makes it clear that the viral video is old.

Conclusion 

From our investigation, we can say that the claim is misleading. The viral video of the wildfire in Jerusalem is not a recent incident. The incident took place on April 30, 2025.