Minister of Public Security Gilad Erdan has announced the cancellation of the fee charged to people who call the Israel Fire & Rescue Service in an emergency.

Erdan feels the response of the fire department falls under essential services that every citizen is entitled to free of charge. Today, if one calls the fire department one is charged even if one is not the owner of the structure on fire.

The charge is based on a number of parameters including how many fire apparatus respond, the distance of the call from a firehouse, and the amount of water used.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)