Haifa Fire: 5 Facts About the City Threatened by the Monster Blaze

(Dec. 3) -- The massive wildfire raging in northern Israel has already claimed the lives of 41 people, but for an international team of firefighters conscripted to fight the blaze, the objective is clear: protect Haifa.

The fire, which is raging during the Jewish celebration of Hanukkah, threatens to engulf the country's third-largest city, which is situated on the slopes of the now flaming Carmel Mountains. Here are a few other facts about the city:

1. Haifa has long been an important port
Haifa is Israel's major port and has been a center of maritime commerce since the Bronze Age. It has changed hands from the Persians, the Turks, the British and others throughout its history. The Haganah, a Jewish paramilitary organization, took control of the city during the Israeli war of independence in 1948.

2. Haifa has a large percentage of Soviet immigrants
Haifa's population rose steadily throughout the 20th century to its present-day level of about 265,000, consisting mostly of Israeli Jews. About 28 percent of those Jews emigrated from the former Soviet Union, according to Wikipedia.

3. Haifa is no stranger to war
Despite being 18 miles from the Lebanon border, Haifa recently came under attack from rockets that analysts previously thought couldn't reach the city. In 2006, Haifa was hit by nearly a hundred Hezbollah rockets that killed 11 people and prompted thousands to flee the city.

4. Haifa has a working-class identity
Haifa has a reputation as busy city. "Haifa works, Jerusalem prays, Tel Aviv plays," as the saying goes. In addition to being the country's major port, it is the main financial center, and industries like oil refineries complement the busy port.

5. Haifa subway system holds a record
Haifa has Israel's only subway system, the Carmelit. The Caremelit, however, holds the world record for smallest subway system in the world.

Follow Surge Desk on Twitter