Out of Tragedy, Rejuvenation Carmel Forest One Year After
Channel: U.S. Embassy Jerusalem
Date: 2012-02-09

U.S. Ambassador and Ms Julie Fisher celebrated the eve of Tu B'shvat, Israel's Arbor day, with a visit to Yemin Orde Youth Village, located in Nof HaCarmel, on the Carmel mountain range and near the Carmel Forest to plant an olive tree as a symbol of renewal and growth and America's deep-rooted friendship with Israel. The visit took place shortly after the one year anniversary of the Carmel Forest Fire, December 2010, that nearly destroyed this Youth-at-Risk village. 
Following the tree-planting ceremony, Ambassador Shapiro and  Ms. Julie Fisher then toured the Carmel Forest area, accompanied by senior staff of the JNF-KKL, along with Tom Tidwell, Chief, U.S. Forest Service. They were shown the extent of the damage caused by the fire. They learned of how local KKL rescue teams went into action to control the fire from spreading to prevent further loss of lives and damage to hotels and houses in the Carmel Forest area.  They were also shown the ongoing restoration work taking place. They were taken to the new memorial monument, recently unveiled, that commemorates the 44 people killed in the fire. There, both Ambassador Sh. apiro and Chief Tidwell laid a wreath and stood for a moment of reflection.

See the photos at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/usembassyta/sets/72157629216448839/