Fire erupts at Israeli prison holding ex-president

Israel’s prisons service says a fire has broken out at the facility where former President Moshe Katsav is serving time.

Spokesman Itsik Gorlov said the fire erupted at a factory at Maasiyahu prison in central Israel Sunday. He had no immediate details on its cause or whether there were any casualties. He said it had not spread to the wards where prisoners are held.

Katsav has been serving a seven-year sentence since 2011 after being convicted of rape and other charges. He has denied the accusations.

Israel on Sunday was battling a series of brushfires caused by the combination of hot, dry weather and the Lag Baomer holiday, in which revellers traditionally celebrate with bonfires.