Bursa Mayor Bozbey on the forest fire: 'It is suspicious that it started in 6 different areas at once'

The forest fire that began yesterday evening between the Orhaneli and Harmancık districts of Bursa intensified today due to the wind.

Bursa Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mustafa Bozbey, accompanied by CHP Provincial Chairman Nihat Yeşiltaş and CHP Bursa Deputy Hasan Öztürk, traveled to the Harmancık district to inspect the firefighting efforts on-site.

Mayor Mustafa Bozbey met with Orhaneli Mayor Ali Osman Tayır and Keles Mayor Ali Doğru to exchange views on the latest situation.

Later, Mayor Bozbey and his entourage boarded an AKOM vehicle to observe the area via drone and assess the situation.

"5-6 NEIGHBORHOODS EVACUATED"

Stating that Bursa has been struggling with fires for over 24 hours, Mayor Mustafa Bozbey conveyed his best wishes to both Turkey and Bursa.

Mayor Mustafa Bozbey said that the fire, which started in the Yakuplar neighborhood of Orhaneli yesterday, spread toward Harmancık today, and noted that 5-6 neighborhoods have been completely evacuated due to the fire danger, and another neighborhood will be evacuated if a risk arises.

"THIS SITUATION IS SUSPICIOUS"

Expressing that it is suspicious that the fire in the Harmancık district started in 6 different areas at once due to the wind, Mayor Bozbey stated the following:

- "This situation worries us. Bursa is experiencing one of its greatest pains in recent years. It is experiencing a natural disaster. We are losing a lot of land due to the fire spreading under the influence of the wind. While one part of the fire is moving toward Harmancık, another part is moving toward Dursunbey.

- The fight against the fire is being carried out hand-in-hand by the Bursa Metropolitan Municipality, public institutions, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, and citizens. We are in the field with around 245 vehicles and 550-600 personnel. Our teams have been on duty in the field for 26 hours. Intense efforts are being made to extinguish the fires in both the mountain region and the Gürsu-Kestel region. We are saddened that we have not been able to stop the fire despite our interventions," he said.

1 PERSON DIED IN OVERTURNED TANKER

Explaining that the efforts to combat the fire in the Gürsu region are also continuing uninterrupted, Mayor Bozbey also expressed that they received sad news from the region.

Stating that one person died and two people were injured after a tanker that came from out of town to participate in the firefighting efforts overturned into a ditch, Mayor Bozbey said, "I wish God's mercy upon our brother who passed away. I also wish a speedy recovery to the injured. I thank every one of our citizens who participated in the efforts to extinguish the fire. In this fire, all our people in Bursa have once again demonstrated an example of solidarity and unity. Our fire department and our AKOM organization are fighting in the field under the coordination of our Governorship, together with AFAD. Everyone is fulfilling their duties and responsibilities more than enough. After the cooling works in the burned areas are completed, we will start a project to turn them green under the leadership of our Governorship. We will provide support by planting 5 trees for every one lost," he said.

News Source: 12punto