” firefighters and EMT workers in Israel had to be organized and ready to go at a moment’s notice, which meant preparing a few hours before Shabbos ended.”
Next time that Lag B’Omer falls out motzi Shabat, I hope that we will eliminate the chilul Shabat by pushing off the bonfires to Sunday afternoon, as was suggested by numerous rabbis who were sadly ignored. They could still be lit the afternoon of Lag B’Omer and continue to burn all night. Rabbi Shimon would be very pleased! After all, the sugya describing his time in the cave and after starts on Amud Bet of Shabat Daf 33, and continues to Amud Aleph of Daf 34! I think there might be a lesson there. 😉