Forest fire in İzmir continues for hours

While efforts to contain the forest fire that broke out in Manisa in recent hours are ongoing, another report has come from İzmir. A forest fire broke out for an as-yet-undetermined reason at 1:15 PM in the Zafer neighborhood, located between the Gaziemir and Buca districts of İzmir.

The first response to the fire was made at 1:25 PM. Aerial and ground intervention is continuing with 7 aircraft, 16 helicopters, 35 water tenders, 11 water supply vehicles, 4 bulldozers, and 4 ground crews belonging to the General Directorate of Forestry.

Aerial and ground intervention continues for the forest fire that broke out between the Gaziemir and Buca districts of İzmir.

Efforts are being made to bring the fire that broke out yesterday in the wooded area of Zafer neighborhood under control with 4 night-vision helicopters, 40 water tenders, 9 water supply vehicles, 4 bulldozers, and 4 ground crews affiliated with the General Directorate of Forestry.

The fire is being supported by 21 tankers and 5 water tenders belonging to the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, as well as 5 riot control vehicles (TOMA) from the Provincial Security Directorate's Riot Police Branch.

With the intervention of the teams, the threat of the flames to residential areas has been prevented.

Citizens living in the houses evacuated on Çamlık Street due to the flames approaching residential areas continue to wait in the region.

The Regional Directorate of Forestry and fire department teams are continuing their efforts to bring the fire under control.

STATEMENT FROM MINISTER YUMAKLI REGARDING THE FIRE IN İZMİR

Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı announced that aerial and ground intervention in the fire in İzmir's Gaziemir and Buca districts is continuing.

In a post on his social media account, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı stated, “Our aerial and ground interventions against the fires in İzmir's Gaziemir and Buca districts have been ongoing since the first moment. With the support of our General Directorate of Forestry (OGM) organization and all our institutions, we are working intensely to bring the fire under control.”

Terrifying images of the fire that has been ongoing for 10 hours in İzmirhttps://t.co/21cemSi3yW pic.twitter.com/5vJMcRoutt

— 12punto (@12puntocomtr) July 18, 2024

SOME FLIGHTS TEMPORARILY CANCELLED

It was learned that some flights were temporarily cancelled as the scale of the fire, which is located around Adnan Menderes Airport, increased.

ANIMAL SHELTERS EVACUATED

Due to the fire, beehives and small livestock shelters in the area were evacuated.

SOME HOUSES IN GAZİEMİR EVACUATED

In the Sarnıç neighborhood of Gaziemir, police and gendarmerie teams removed citizens from the area as the flames approached nearby houses.

A barrier was set up between the fire and the houses using Regional Directorate of Forestry vehicles, fire trucks, and riot control vehicles (TOMA) to prevent the flames from jumping to the houses.

Security forces began evacuating houses on Çamlık Street in the Sarnıç neighborhood, where the flames were close.

The fire, which spread in different directions due to the wind changing direction, approached residential units near the Sarnıç Picnic Area.

As the flames became effective at a point close to residential units, the Regional Directorate of Forestry, fire department teams, and riot control vehicles (TOMA) focused on this region.

Citizens also joined the intervention against the flames, which were approximately 100 meters away from the houses.

It was observed that citizens, who were wetting trees and their houses with hoses, experienced difficult moments due to the heavy smoke.

"EXTRAORDINARY EFFORTS ARE BEING MADE"

Buca Mayor Görkem Duman, in a statement to journalists after his inspection in the fire zone, said that the teams were making an extraordinary effort and that difficulties were being experienced because the wind was constantly changing direction.

Stating that the fire had stopped in some directions and cooling work was being carried out, Duman added that municipal search and rescue teams were also participating in the efforts.

Mayor Duman, who stated that there is a cement factory in the region, added that the allegations that there is a risk regarding this do not reflect the truth.

Forest fire in İzmir continues for hourshttps://t.co/21cemSi3yW pic.twitter.com/O673KOF8Ul

— 12punto (@12puntocomtr) July 18, 2024

MSB ASSIGNED 5 HELICOPTERS

The Ministry of National Defense (MSB) announced that 5 helicopters belonging to the Land Forces Command were assigned to support the firefighting efforts in Gaziemir, İzmir.

In the statement made on the Ministry's social media account, it was stated, "3 AS-532 and 2 CH-47 type helicopters belonging to our Land Forces were assigned to support the firefighting efforts in Gaziemir, İzmir."

"OUR INTERVENTION CONTINUES WITHOUT INTERRUPTION"

Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı, who made a post on his social media account, used the following expressions:

"OUR STRUGGLE AGAINST FOREST FIRES CONTINUES"

- İzmir Buca

- Kütahya Gediz and

- Balıkesir Altıeylül forest fires;

- 14 Aircraft

- 30 Helicopters

- 103 of our ground vehicles and 647 Heroes of the Forest were dispatched.

Our aerial and ground intervention to bring the fires under control continues without interruption."

"We are striving to bring the fire under control"

The post made by the Ministry said the following:

"WE ARE CONTINUING OUR STRUGGLE AGAINST THE FLAMES AT NIGHT.

Our aerial and ground interventions against the fires that broke out in the #Gaziemir and #Buca districts of İzmir continue.

We are striving to bring the fire under control with all our resources."

FIRE IN FOÇA DISTRICT OF İZMİR IS UNDER CONTROL

The fire that broke out in a wooded and scrubland area in the Foça district of İzmir was brought under control with the intervention of the teams.

A fire broke out for an as-yet-undetermined reason in the wooded and scrubland area in Fevzi Çakmak neighborhood.

The fire, which spread due to the effect of the wind, was also effective on the campus of the Gendarmerie Commando Counter-Terrorism Operation School Command.

While the fire was being intervened with aerial and ground vehicles belonging to the General Directorate of Forestry, it was stated that military personnel also provided support to the efforts.

The fire spread to the scrubland in Koca Mehmetler neighborhood behind the military zone.

The Hayat Foça Site located in this region was evacuated as a precaution. The site manager, Can Koktekin, stated that they evacuated the site upon the warning of the gendarmerie, and that the flames were brought under control around the site with the work of the fire department and AFAD teams.

Foça District Governor Mehmet Türköz, in his statement, said that the fire, which started at around 2:50 PM at the Yenifoça Gendarmerie Commando Counter-Terrorism School Command and spread outside the school due to the effect of the wind, was brought under control at around 10:30 PM.

INTERVENTION TO THE FIRE CONTINUED THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT

Teams affiliated with the İzmir Regional Directorate of Forestry and fire department teams managed to slow down the fire, which spread due to the effect of the wind.

The fire, which was also followed by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) from the fire command center, was supported by 4 night-vision helicopters.

With the intervention of the teams, the threat of the flames to residential areas has been prevented.

Efforts to bring the fire under control with aerial and ground intervention continue.

İzmir Governor Süleyman Elban also shared details about the number of teams working on the fire in a statement he made on his social media account.

In his statement, Elban provided information that 7 aircraft, 23 helicopters, 2 trailer tractors, 98 water tenders, 19 water tankers, 1 tracked tractor, 21 tonnage tankers, 8 bulldozers, 13 riot control vehicles (TOMA), 69 dolphin teams, 26 traffic teams, 98 civilian teams, health and fire department teams, and 2172 personnel participated in the fire efforts.

Reminding that the Bergama and Foça fires were brought under control, Elban stated that cooling efforts in the regions are continuing.

News Source: AA