Breaking News: Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı announces the latest status of the fire in İzmir

Teams began aerial intervention at daybreak for the fire that broke out in the forest area in the Yamanlar Karatepe location of Karşıyaka, İzmir, two days ago, which spread to residential areas and an industrial site, causing 3 neighborhoods to be evacuated.

Teams are continuing their efforts to bring the fire under control despite strong winds.

STATEMENT FROM THE MAYOR OF KARŞIYAKA

Karşıyaka Mayor Behice Yıldız Ünsal provided an update on the latest status of the fire.

Speaking on Sözcü TV, Ünsal reported that part of the fire has been brought under control but it continues in the higher elevations.

Stating that the wind is expected to increase in intensity around noon, Ünsal said, "If the wind does not pick up, we will bring it completely under control. There is no loss of life, and citizens in one village have been evacuated."

YUMAKLI: THE ENERGY OF THE FIRE IN İZMİR HAS DECREASED

Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı reported that the energy of the fire in İzmir has decreased. Making a new statement this morning regarding the latest situation, Minister Yumaklı said the following:

Providing information on forest fires across the country, Yumaklı recalled that he had mentioned 6 active fires in his previous statement, adding, "One of these, the Milas fire in Muğla, has been brought under control, thank God. We currently have 5 active fires. Regarding İzmir Karşıyaka Yamanlar, the fire is trapped in a valley with 3 planes and 14 helicopters. Transportation there is a bit difficult. In this way, we are waiting for our friends to reduce the pressure in this area with planes and helicopters and intervene to extinguish it."

Explaining that the fire in the Bozdoğan district of Aydın is also being intervened with 8 planes and 14 helicopters, Yumaklı said:

"One of these planes is the Be-200, a heavy-class firefighting aircraft that we brought to Turkey in recent weeks. We directed it here as well. The northern line, where we see the smoke behind us, is a point close to Alhisar village, which is the starting point of the fire. Unfortunately, there is a fire here that started in a rural area and spread to the forest. Although not certain, we believe that we have reached the current situation due to carelessness again."

Noting that the wind in the region was very strong yesterday and has decreased somewhat today compared to yesterday, Yumaklı explained that teams are working intensely at 2 points on the northern and southern lines.

Emphasizing that there are very productive forests on the southern line, Yumaklı stated, "It will challenge us much, much more there. In the event that the wind increases significantly, there may be life-threatening risks for our friends and the teams intervening. The neighborhoods of Güre, Hışımlar, and Malküpü have been evacuated here. Three houses in Hışımlar and two houses in Örmepınar have been damaged. 10 of our personnel and 59 of our citizens were affected by the smoke, but there is no risk in terms of their health status."

Touching on fires in other regions, Yumaklı shared the following information:

"Currently, interventions are continuing in Bolu Göynük, Karabük Ovacık, and Manisa Gördes. Their energies have also been reduced here. A very serious struggle is truly being waged. Our friends are working sleeplessly tonight to finish these to a large extent, but they are intervening in them selflessly, doing whatever is necessary. If no new fire breaks out in the current state, I hope and pray that we will give good news in the near future by concentrating on these fires."

"OUR ALARM STATUS CONTINUES UNTIL SEPTEMBER 15"

Emphasizing that one must be sensitive regarding forest fires, Minister Yumaklı said, "We are in a period where we all need to be careful until next Sunday; very low humidity, high temperature, and strong wind create environments that are practically looking for a reason to burn. Please, let us also show the necessary sensitivity. Our alarm status continues until September 15."

"DO NOT LIGHT EVEN A SINGLE MATCH IN AN OPEN AREA"

Recalling that the most important issue challenging them is meteorological conditions and that the General Directorate of Meteorology has warned about very high wind, low humidity, and temperature from this week until next Sunday, Yumaklı said, "I especially ask all our citizens not to light even a single match in open areas, not to throw cigarette butts out of their vehicle windows, not to light picnic fires, and not to cause any element that I cannot think of that would prepare an environment that could cause a fire."

BOLU

Efforts are underway to extinguish the fire that broke out in the forest area near Bekirfakılar village in the Göynük district of Bolu around noon two days ago. 12 helicopters, 138 water tenders, and 245 vehicles and construction equipment from Bolu and surrounding provinces are supporting the firefighting efforts.

Intervention from the air and ground continues to extinguish the fire with 1357 personnel working in the region. Governor Erkan Kılıç, who came to Umurlar village to make inspections, received information from the authorities. Kılıç told reporters, "The fire has not been fully brought under control at the moment, but our teams are working intensely."

Emphasizing that everyone is continuing their self-sacrificial work, Kılıç continued as follows:

"The fire has been extinguished at certain points at the moment. Interventions for precautionary purposes continue there. Our goal is to prevent the fire from spreading further. Our friends are working on the point of intervening immediately in any fires that may break out. As our Minister had stated yesterday regarding this fire, 4 people were detained. Their procedures are currently ongoing. We assess that it started from stubble. We want all our citizens to be sensitive about this issue as well. We all see together what it costs."

Upon being reminded that evacuations were carried out for precautionary purposes, Governor Kılıç stated that they had placed 490 people, including the elderly, women, children, and disabled individuals, with their relatives. Stating that the citizens did not want to leave their homes, Kılıç said, "There are chicken coops here due to the white meat sector. We have a very large number of chickens there as well. Therefore, they want to take care of them; they have maintenance. But we convinced the citizens in some way and tried to evacuate them by taking them out of the dangerous area. The citizens also showed sensitivity to us. We will follow the process regarding this. I believe that it will return to normal in a short time and our citizens will return to their homes, vineyards, and gardens." Upon a question, Kılıç stated that the procedures for those detained regarding the fire are ongoing, saying, "4 people, they are actually the owners of the land."

AYDIN

A fire also broke out for an undetermined reason yesterday in the forest area located in Alhisar Neighborhood of Bozdoğan district of Aydın, and some houses in Örmepınar Neighborhood were evacuated.

Intervention from the air and ground continued throughout the night for the fire. The number of aircraft was increased with the first light of day.

8 helicopters, 7 planes, 32 water tenders, 11 water tankers, 5 bulldozers, and 303 personnel are intervening in the flames.

Despite the wind and the rugged terrain, the teams' efforts to bring the fire under control continue.

KARABÜK

Efforts are underway to extinguish the fire that broke out yesterday around 14:19 in the forest area between Alınca and Beydini villages in the Ovacık district of Karabük. 61 vehicles and 192 personnel are intervening to extinguish the fire.

Water tenders, water tankers, fire trucks, and bulldozers belonging to the Karabük, Ovacık, and Yenice Forest Management Directorates, the Karabük DSI 234th Branch Directorate, the Provincial Special Administration, the Karabük, Ovacık, and Yenice Municipalities, Kardemir AŞ, and the Regional Directorate of Forestry are also taking part in the efforts.

Vehicles from the Bartın and Karadeniz Ereğli Forest Management Directorates are on their way to the region, and firefighting efforts continue. 2 firefighting helicopters belonging to the Gendarmerie Command are also supporting the efforts.

MANİSA

The forest fire that broke out on August 14 in Boyalı Neighborhood of Gördes district of Manisa spread due to the effect of the wind and reached Salihli district, and today it reached Yunuslar Neighborhood of Gölmarmara district.

6 planes, 14 helicopters, 46 water tenders, 14 water supply vehicles, 6 construction equipment, and 6 first-response ground teams are intervening in the fire, which is effective in the forest area near Yunuslar Neighborhood of Gölmarmara, as well as Kale Neighborhood of Salihli, in addition to Gördes.

450 personnel, including 45 technical staff, are working in the fight against the fire. While 1 plane, 4 helicopters, 15 water tenders, 3 water supply vehicles, 2 construction equipment, and 1 first-response ground team are intervening in the fire that broke out on August 15 in Kayacık Neighborhood and continues, 100 personnel, including 5 technical staff, are participating in the extinguishing efforts in the region.

Manisa Governor Enver Ünlü, who made inspections in the areas affected by the flames, shared the information that the fire risk continues in Hacıhıdır Neighborhood of Salihli and Yunuslar and Çamköy Neighborhoods of Gölmarmara.

FIRE IN MUĞLA UNDER CONTROL

A fire broke out yesterday around 17:30 in the forest between the rural Beçin and Çamovalı neighborhoods of Muğla's district. Upon the notification of those around to the 112 Emergency Call Center, the fire was intervened from the air with planes and helicopters belonging to the Muğla Regional Directorate of Forestry, and from the ground with 63 vehicles, 30 construction equipment, and 260 personnel.

Extinguishing efforts, which were also supported by firefighters, were continued from the ground after dark. As the flames grew due to the effect of the wind, Çamovalı Neighborhood was evacuated.

Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Yumaklı announced that the fire in Milas has been brought under control.

On the other hand, an investigation has been initiated by the Milas Chief Public Prosecutor's Office to determine the cause of the fire.

16 HOUSES BURNED

The fire that started two days ago in the Karatepe location of Yamanlar Neighborhood in the Karşıyaka district of İzmir had reached residential areas.

In the fire, 16 houses burned, and 87 houses and 45 workplaces were evacuated. Due to the fire, where 3 neighborhoods were also evacuated, an animal shelter was also evacuated.

In the fire that started in Karşıyaka and spread to forest areas in Bayraklı and Çiğli districts, many points of the city were left under smoke.

In addition to forest teams, municipalities, police, AFAD, and gendarmerie personnel also supported the firefighting efforts with their vehicles.

78 PEOPLE AFFECTED BY THE FIRE

According to Ministry of Health data, 78 people were affected by the fire in İzmir, and there was no loss of life.

CAUSE OF THE FIRE IN İZMİR

Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı had announced that the fire in the Karşıyaka district of İzmir broke out due to a fire lit by 3 people for picnic purposes.

6 PEOPLE DETAINED, 3 PEOPLE SOUGHT

Announcing that the search for 3 people regarding the fires in İzmir is ongoing, Yumaklı had reported that 2 people were detained in Ödemiş and 4 people in Bolu.

Stating that no sabotage was detected regarding the cause of the fires, Yumaklı had said, "If there is any detection, our Governorship will announce it."

News Source: AA