Story highlights 12 detained in relation to fires, although specific charges are still unknown

Strong winds are fanning wildfires in northern Israel

Jerusalem (CNN) Wildfires raged across Israel for a third consecutive day, forcing tens of thousands of people from their homes in what officials described as an act of "arson terrorism."

Twelve people were detained on Friday in relation to fires, police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said, although it was not immediately clear if they were suspected of arson or negligence.

Police arrest 12 suspects in connection with fires across Israel in the last few days.Police units & firefighters dealing with smaller fires — Micky Rosenfeld (@MickyRosenfeld) November 25, 2016

Speaking to reporters, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said if the fires were deliberately lit it would amount to "terrorism," and vowed to severely punish anyone who "tries to burn parts of Israel," Reuters reported.

"Every fire that was caused by arson, or incitement to arson, is terrorism by all accounts. And we will treat it as such."

Photos: Wildfires in Israel Palestinian firefighters work in Haifa, Israel, on Friday, November 25, to extinguish the last of the wildfires that spread across Israel's third-largest city and forced tens of thousands of people to flee their homes. Israel has been battling its most serious wildfires since 2010. Days of strong, dry easterly winds have been driving the flames, Israeli meteorologist Dani Rup told CNN. Hide Caption 1 of 15 Photos: Wildfires in Israel Israeli firefighters work in Haifa on November 25. Hide Caption 2 of 15 Photos: Wildfires in Israel A woman looks at a damaged building next to burned cars in Haifa on November 25. Hide Caption 3 of 15 Photos: Wildfires in Israel Inside a burned house in Haifa on November 25. Hide Caption 4 of 15 Photos: Wildfires in Israel Haifa residents fight a wildfire with a hose on Thursday, November 24. Hide Caption 5 of 15 Photos: Wildfires in Israel A plane drops retardant on a fire in Haifa on November 24. Hide Caption 6 of 15 Photos: Wildfires in Israel A woman sprays water toward a fire from a rooftop in Haifa on November 24. Hide Caption 7 of 15 Photos: Wildfires in Israel Two people document a Haifa fire on their cell phones on November 24. Hide Caption 8 of 15 Photos: Wildfires in Israel A firefighter extinguishes smoldering ashes in Zikhron Ya'akov, south of Haifa, on Wednesday, November 23. Hide Caption 9 of 15 Photos: Wildfires in Israel A wildfire burns in Zikhron Ya'akov on November 23. Hide Caption 10 of 15 Photos: Wildfires in Israel A plane drops fire retardant on wildfires in the hills near Nataf, Israel, on November 23. Hide Caption 11 of 15 Photos: Wildfires in Israel Officials watch fires from a home that was burned in Nataf on November 23. Hide Caption 12 of 15 Photos: Wildfires in Israel Relly Golan surveys the ruins of her burned home in Zikhron Ya'akov on November 23. Hide Caption 13 of 15 Photos: Wildfires in Israel A boy stands next to a burnt car in Zikhron Ya'akov on November 23. Hide Caption 14 of 15 Photos: Wildfires in Israel A blaze left this home damaged in Zikhron Ya'akov on November 23. Hide Caption 15 of 15

The fires began Tuesday in the northern community of Zichron Ya'akov, about 35 kilometers (22 miles) north of the city of Haifa. Authorities ordered the evacuation of 60,000 people in Haifa. Fires broke out the following day in Modi'in in central Israel.

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