Forest fire in Çanakkale brought under control

The latest situation regarding the forest fire that has been ongoing for hours in Çanakkale was captured by drone.

Efforts to combat the fire, which started yesterday at 16:05 after spreading from stubble to the forest near Kumköy village in the Eceabat district of the historic Gallipoli Peninsula, intensified with helicopters and planes at sunrise.

The fire was fought with numerous vehicles and personnel from the air and on the ground.

UNDER CONTROL AFTER 24 HOURS

Teams made intense efforts to bring the fire under control. The forest fire in Çanakkale was brought under control after 24 hours.

The cause of the fire is being investigated.

Meanwhile, the latest situation in the fire zone was captured by drone.

Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı had inspected the fire areas during his visit to the region yesterday and received information from officials about the latest situation and the efforts.

STATEMENT FROM MINISTER YUMAKLI

Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı stated that there was only one problematic area left in the fight against the fire in the Eceabat district of Çanakkale, that the progress of the flames had been stopped and their energy significantly reduced, but that they could not yet say it was "completely under control" because the wind was very strong.

In his statement to journalists at the coordination center established at the Çanakkale Epic Promotion Center, Minister Yumaklı reported that intervention began at 16:11 for the stubble fire that started near Büyükanafarta village at 16:05 yesterday and spread to the forest.

Stating that it was decided to evacuate the villages of Büyükanafarta and Küçükanafarta as a precaution, Yumaklı said, "In these evacuations, approximately 530 people were placed in the Youth Guest House of our Ministry of Youth and Sports. Thank God, there is no loss of life or health problems. The initial intervention began with 9 planes, 6 helicopters, 94 water tenders and construction equipment, and 540 personnel. This intervention and struggle continued with the support of our Governorship, AFAD, our General Directorate of Forestry, and other public institutions and organizations, as well as the private sector."

Yumaklı explained that aircraft could not operate after sunset, and that the struggle continued throughout the night with 73 water tenders and construction equipment, one night-vision helicopter, and 402 General Directorate of Forestry personnel, including a total of 290 vehicles from other public institutions and organizations, with 970 personnel in total.

"WE ESTIMATE THAT 575 HECTARES WERE AFFECTED"

Touching on the size of the fire area, Yumaklı said, "We estimate that the area affected by the fire is approximately 575 hectares. We will announce the exact figures when the examinations are finished. Approximately 340 hectares of this area is forest, and the rest is non-forest land."

Minister Yumaklı emphasized that extinguishing efforts continued intensively with sunrise.

Stating that aerial intervention restarted as of 05:45 with 10 planes and 7 helicopters, Yumaklı continued:

"There is only one problematic area left, and our friends are currently focused on that. The progress of the fire has already been stopped, and its energy has been significantly reduced, but because the wind is very strong, we cannot say it is 'completely under control' at the moment. Both partial interventions and checks by our friends from the ground and air are continuing. I hope to give the news that it has been 'brought under control' in the coming hours. I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to the employees of all institutions in this area who fought against the flames all night without sleeping. The integration of our institutions in this regard and their solidarity with each other is also extremely gratifying."

STRAIT TRAFFIC CLOSED AGAIN ONE-WAY

Yumaklı stated that they received news of another fire around 02:30 from Değirmendüzü village in the Gelibolu district, and that they had to divide their forces for the fire that started in a serious area and with very strong winds.

Saying that the flames were partially brought under control within 2 hours with intense intervention and are now completely under control, and that there are no problems, Yumaklı gave the following information about the measures regarding the fire in Eceabat:

"With the start of the fire, the Strait traffic had been closed one-way in the north-south direction. It has been decided that this ban will continue in the same way as the aircraft are currently in the water intake directions, and it will continue this way until our friends say 'it is now under control'.

We also made an assessment regarding whether the Historical Peninsula we are in should be opened to visitor traffic. We decided to keep the Conkbayırı region, where the fire was particularly effective, closed to visitors, but to open it partially to visitors under the control and coordination of the Site Directorate. We have not yet made any decision regarding the return to the two evacuated villages. We decided to continue with the village evacuated in this way as a precaution there as well. I hope that with the decision that it has been 'brought under control', these villagers will be able to return to their homes."

"WE DECIDED TO COMPLETE HARVESTING OPERATIONS BY 11:00"

İbrahim Yumaklı announced that it is estimated that there will be winds reaching storm levels, especially in the Çanakkale region, for 5 days and that air temperatures will be 5 degrees above seasonal norms.

Pointing out that farmers who will harvest in Çanakkale have been notified to complete their operations by 11:00 and that they will not be allowed to do so afterwards, Yumaklı noted the following:

"We decided to complete the harvesting operations by 11:00 because even a spark that could arise from the use of any machine during hours when the wind is very strong could cause a very serious fire. Of course, our friends and our Governorship will make their assessments on this matter over the next 5 days. It may be earlier or it may be extended for a few days."

Yumaklı stated that the work to bring the fire that broke out in Uşak yesterday at 18:30 under control is also continuing.

Explaining that work is continuing to give the news that it has been "brought under control" in the coming hours, Yumaklı concluded his words as follows:

"I would like to make a general warning to our valuable citizens. We especially request that they spend time in places designated as recreation areas or picnic areas due to the holiday, that they strictly comply with the warnings given to them in these areas, that they watch out for the smallest element that could cause a fire and show care in this regard, and especially that they do not enter prohibited forest areas in any way, especially these areas, and do not light fires. I would like to remind you once again that the greatest success in this matter, which causes a very large loss of resources in addition to the damage to our green homeland in this way, is that the fire does not start at all."