Major fire in Sakarya: 300 people and hundreds of animals evacuated

The forest fire, which started yesterday afternoon in the Paşalar area of Sakarya's Taraklı district, grew rapidly due to the wind and spread to the Gölpazarı district of Bilecik. The fire intensified in the village of Akçeözü in Gölpazarı, and danger signals began to be received in surrounding villages as well.

VILLAGES EVACUATED, CITIZENS URGED TO REMAIN CALM

Following the spread of the fire, the Gölpazarı District Governorship and Municipality issued an evacuation order for 8 villages in the region. The evacuated settlements include the villages of Köprücek, Akçeözü, Seyfiler, Kavak, Ormancılar, Hacıdurmuşlar, Alıç, and Elmümin. While the evacuated citizens were placed in dormitories and accommodation areas in the district center, nearly 500 head of cattle and small livestock were moved to empty barns and shelters.

INTENSIVE AERIAL AND GROUND INTERVENTION

Firefighting efforts are being carried out by teams from the provinces of Sakarya, Bilecik, and Bolu. A total of 105 personnel, 24 vehicles, 7 firefighting helicopters, and 2 firefighting aircraft are operating in the region. Regional Directorate of Forestry teams are intervening in the fire both from the ground with fire trucks and from the air with helicopters. Unfortunately, one fire truck was engulfed in flames during the intervention and became unusable.

Bilecik Governor Faik Oktay Sözer, who is monitoring the fire from the crisis center, went to the region and made statements. Stating that the greatest consolation is that there has been no loss of life, Governor Sözer said:

“We are on the scene with the Regional Directorate of Forestry, AFAD, and our law enforcement forces. As of now, we have no loss of life. We have evacuated our citizens and animals in the affected areas to safe zones. We have sufficient accommodation areas and shelters in our district. We are hosting our citizens.”

WIND IS CRITICAL, INTERVENTION WILL LAST UNTIL MORNING

Emphasizing that bringing the fire under control depends on the wind conditions, Governor Sözer said, “All vehicles and personnel from our regional provinces are in the field. Preventive work is being carried out at strategic points to prevent the fire from advancing. We hope to bring the fire under control following the intervention that will continue throughout the night.”

News Source: 12punto