It had spread from Kızılcahamam: Forest fire in Bolu brought under control

Efforts are underway to combat the fire that started in a grassy area in the Kızılcahamam district of Ankara and spread to a forested area in the Gerede district of Bolu.

The flames also spread to the Demirler Village area of Gerede district. A barn burned down. Villagers were evacuated.

Citizens in the village were evacuated due to the risk of the fire spreading to the Demirler Village area of Gerede district. In the village where a barn burned down, the fire was brought under control through aerial and ground operations before it could reach residential areas in this region.

The fire that started in Kızılcahamam spread to Bolu:
It has exceeded 13 hourshttps://t.co/LGdEvVOCEm pic.twitter.com/Vyz1lFhoMw

— 12punto (@12puntohaber) August 21, 2024

SOCIAL MEDIA POST FROM YAVAŞ

Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mansur Yavaş stated in a post on his social media account that they were responding to the forest fire that started in the Şahinler neighborhood of Kızılcahamam with 16 vehicles and 35 personnel. Stating that the teams were making intense efforts to protect residential areas, Yavaş said, "Fire departments from Kazan, Keresteciler, İvedik Organized Industrial Zone, and Sincan, as well as General Directorate of Forestry teams, have been dispatched to the region for support. We are continuing our aerial and ground intervention."

"THE SMOKE APPEARED SUDDENLY"

Minire Çakır, a witness to the forest fire that spread to the Gerede district of Bolu, said in a statement, "I had performed ablution and was going to pray. Suddenly a spark appeared, and the smoke appeared suddenly. I was very scared. I am praying to my Lord, may He protect all our people."

FIRE STATEMENT FROM BOLU GOVERNOR KILIÇ

Bolu Governor Erkan Kılıç, regarding the fire that started in the Kızılcahamam district of Ankara and spread to the Gerede district of Bolu, said, "There is wind right now, and it has gotten dark. We are just trying to prevent it from spreading."

Kılıç told reporters in the fire zone that the intervention in the fire was ongoing.

Stating that the fire spread from Şahinler village in Ankara's Kızılcahamam district to Demirler village in Bolu, Kılıç said, "It was also threatening residential areas. There was a sparse wooded area around the residential areas. At the same time, there was a grassy area. It was effective in these places; these places have already burned. Its spread to houses was prevented with fire extinguishing vehicles."

Explaining that the fire is continuing especially on the northeast side, Kılıç said, "We assess that we have a risk there. There is a valley there. Our vehicles cannot reach it. Currently, a road will be opened there with a bulldozer, and then fire trucks and tankers will go down to that region and carry out extinguishing work. At the same time, there is a very strong wind in that region in this valley. This wind inevitably hinders the struggle."

"WE EVACUATED 123 PEOPLE"

Kılıç stated that there are 2 residential areas within the borders of Bolu where the fire is effective, and continued as follows:

"Kavacık village and Demirler village. We carried out evacuations here; we evacuated 123 people, and the citizens are now in a safe zone. Apart from that, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry personnel, AFAD, gendarmerie, police, health units, Red Crescent, whatever unit you can think of, they are all here; at the same time, non-governmental organizations have also come. They are also trying to help. Aerial and ground intervention continued. However, since it is dark, there is no possibility of aerial intervention right now."

Stating that 500 personnel are working in the region, Kılıç said, "The number is constantly increasing. In terms of heavy machinery, there are over 160 pieces of heavy machinery. These are also coming to the region from surrounding provinces and Ankara. Currently, our work is continuing. Because it is dark, the surroundings cannot be seen due to the smoke. The perimeter of the fire is being surrounded by our officers, and efforts are being made to prevent its spread with heavy machinery."

Responding to a reporter's questions about whether the fire threatened residential areas and allegations that it started from power lines, Kılıç replied, "Precautions have already been taken. Riot control vehicles (TOMA) have also arrived from Ankara. There is no threat at the moment. The cause of the fire is human-induced. The Kızılcahamam Chief Public Prosecutor's Office is conducting the process regarding this. They are carrying out proceedings regarding the people who caused this."

Governor Kılıç answered the question about whether it is possible to bring the fire under control today by saying, "There is wind right now, and it has gotten dark. We are just trying to prevent it from spreading. It is a bit difficult, meaning it is difficult this evening. Let the day break, and then we will see. Everyone is already in the field, they are fighting right now."

Meanwhile, upon the decision to evacuate the 38-household Kavacık village due to the fire following Demirler village, the villagers left the village with their own means and Gerede Municipality buses.

Village headman Metin Ceylan said that they evacuated the village as a precaution and were on standby.

Ceylan noted that they made an announcement from the mosque upon the arrival of gendarmerie personnel and that the evacuation of the village was ensured.

Village imam Hüseyin Aşçı explained that he was in Gerede during the fire and was told that a fire had broken out in Demirler village.

Stating that the fire danger was removed from their village and precautions were taken, Aşçı stated that the elderly, women, and children were evacuated first, and said, "We are currently waiting with our village headman and his council member. We also had to gather the animals in one place. May God protect us from these disasters."

AFAD: 36 HOUSEHOLDS EVACUATED

In a statement made by AFAD on its social media account, it was stated, "A forest fire occurred in the Demirler village area of Gerede district at around 12:28 today. All relevant institutions and organizations have started fire extinguishing efforts from the first moment; intervention efforts are continuing uninterruptedly from the air and ground. 36 households in Demirler village were evacuated as a precaution and taken to a safe zone. Teams from our Eskişehir, Ankara, Çankırı, Zonguldak, Düzce, and Sakarya provincial AFAD directorates have been dispatched to the region to support the efforts. We are following the developments."

FIRE BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL

In a statement made by the General Directorate of Forestry on its social media account, it was reported that the fire had been brought under control.

The statement included the following: "The fire that occurred in Bolu Gerede has been brought under control as a result of interventions made day and night. We thank our heroes who fight for the green homeland, all our institutions, NGOs, volunteers, and citizens who supported us."