A fire that broke out last week in the Nadborna Hasidic institutions complex on Ezra Street in Bnei Brak, in an area used for student transit, illustrated the safety danger in a complex where an illegal structure exists.
According to a statement from the Fire Department, following the fire, Talmud Torah students and teaching staff were evacuated from the building, and a child who was present at the scene was slightly injured from smoke inhalation and was taken to the hospital on his own.
The fire broke out near the building and not inside it, but the proximity between the fire source, the building, and the school illustrates the potential risk in a dense urban space, where any unusual event could develop quickly and affect nearby buildings and the local population.
This is a structure that was built without a permit, on the route of the future metro, and there is a demolition order in place.
A structure without a permit is a structure whose engineering safety has not been tested, nor have additional aspects of its safety against fire and electrical hazards been examined.
The Land Enforcement Authority emphasizes that illegal construction is primarily a planning issue, but has additional implications such as safety. In buildings used by the public or located near educational institutions and in areas where many children and residents pass through, it is particularly important to ensure that construction is done legally, safely and accessiblely so that hazards or risks that could have been prevented in advance are not created.
The Land Enforcement Authority stated: "The incident illustrates how important it is to ensure legal construction, especially in a dense urban area and near educational institutions. Construction in accordance with the law is intended not only to protect the public interest, but also to reduce risks and maintain public safety. The illegal structure, located on the metro route, is intended for demolition. The authority will work to evacuate it in accordance with the schedules set by the court.""
