Minister Yumaklı announces the latest status regarding forest fires across Turkey

Turkey is battling forest fires that have broken out in various parts of the country.

While firefighting efforts continue, reports of new fires have also arrived from many regions.

Efforts to extinguish forest fires in Manisa, Bolu, İzmir, Aydın, and Karabük are ongoing.

İzmir, Bolu, and Aydın are the areas where the flames have spread and caused the most damage. Speaking about the latest situation in the Bozdoğan district of Aydın, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı said, "We are fighting an enemy that does not tire, does not suffer, and does not need sleep in the fight against fire. We currently have 8 active fires. The energy of 4 of these has been reduced, and efforts will continue throughout the night regarding the other 3, including the one in Aydın where we are currently located." he said.

2 PEOPLE ARRESTED IN BOLU

Minister of Interior Ali Yerlikaya announced that 7 individuals suspected of causing the forest fires have been detained, and 2 people have been arrested in Bolu.

The statement made by Yerlikaya on his social media account included the following:

"Across the country, a total of 19 forest fires occurred between August 15 and 17, 2024. A total of 7 individuals suspected of causing forest fires have been detained: 3 in the Tire district of İzmir, 2 in the Ödemiş district, 1 in the Bayındır district, and 1 in the Karşıyaka district. Of the 4 individuals detained in the Göynük district of Bolu, 2 have been arrested, and judicial control measures have been imposed on the other 2."

MINISTER YUMAKLI ANNOUNCES THE LATEST STATUS

Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı made statements at Yamanlar Seyirtepe regarding the latest status of the forest fires in İzmir.

Yumaklı announced that the fires that broke out in the Yamanlar and Urla districts of İzmir have been brought under control. 

Yumaklı said, "We have good news today. It is pleasing to start the day with good news. We had announced that there was no risk in İzmir Karşıyaka Yamanlar. Thank God, this fire is now under control."

'BOLU FIRE UNDER CONTROL'

Minister Yumaklı also provided information regarding other ongoing fires. Stating that the fire in Bolu Göynük broke out in rugged terrain and affected a large area, Yumaklı said, "This area is also currently under control. Due to the nature of the trees, small wisps of smoke may be seen from time to time. There is no need to worry."

'EXTINGUISHING EFFORTS CONTINUE IN ÇEŞME'

Minister Yumaklı said, "Our teams have arrived at the fire in the scrubland in Çeşme. Again, with the coordination of the governorship, local authorities were involved and intervention began. One residential complex was evacuated. There are no damaged houses, nor any loss of life or injuries. Cooling effortsare continuing."

5 LOCATIONS WHERE FIRES ARE ONGOING

Stating that there are 5 ongoing fires, Minister Yumaklı said, "In İzmir Menderes, it was continuing in a rugged area with no road access. Our colleagues intervened from the ground throughout the night. Its intensity was reduced with the help of aerial vehicles. Ground intervention is continuing with 4 planes and 11 helicopters. Its intensity has decreased and it is very close to being brought under control.

There was a fire in Bozdoğan that had been ongoing for 3 days. There was wind strong enough to even tear down a flagpole. Through the struggle, it has reached a certain level of maturity here. This is also one of the places closest to being reported as under control.

In Manisa Gördes, there is a fire that has been ongoing for days and has spread over a large area; intervention continues with 1 plane and 10 helicopters. It is among the fires closest to being controlled.

In Ovacık, Karabük, intervention is being carried out on rocky areas with 2 helicopters. Its intensity has been reduced. Smoke may still be visible. This is also one of the areas closest to being under control.

In Çeşme, 4 helicopters and ground crews are intervening. Its intensity has been reduced. Only one spot remains. We will provide clear information during the day regarding the 5 fires that are closest to being under control," he said, sharing the latest status of the points where flames are rising.

İZMİR MENDERES

A fire broke out around 16:30 in the forest near Şaşal Neighborhood in the Menderes district of İzmir.

Upon reports from those who saw the smoke rising from the area, 1 aircraft, 3 helicopters, 7 fire trucks, 2 water supply vehicles, 1 bulldozer, and 1 ground crew belonging to the İzmir Regional Directorate of Forestry were dispatched to the region.

Intervention in the fire, which received its first response at 16:55, continues from the air and the ground.

İZMİR KARŞIYAKA

Teams began aerial intervention at daybreak for the fire that broke out in the forest area in the Karatepe location of Yamanlar Neighborhood in the Karşıyaka district of İzmir the previous day, which spread to residential areas and an industrial site, causing 3 neighborhoods to be evacuated. The fire had reached as far as the residential areas.

In the fire, 16 houses were burned, and 87 houses and 45 workplaces were evacuated. Due to the fire, which also led to the evacuation of 3 neighborhoods, an animal shelter was also cleared.

İZMİR URLA

A fire broke out for an as-yet undetermined reason in a scrubland area near a residential complex in the Balıklıova neighborhood of İzmir's Urla district.

Upon notification by residents of the complex, fire trucks affiliated with the İzmir Regional Directorate of Forestry and teams from the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Fire Department were dispatched to the area.

As the flames approached the residential complex, gendarmerie and AFAD teams began evacuating the site as a precautionary measure.

Intervention by the teams is ongoing.

GOVERNOR OF İZMİR: ONE RESIDENTIAL COMPLEX EVACUATED

İzmir Governor Süleyman Elban stated that a residential complex in the area had been evacuated due to the fire in the Urla district.

Receiving information from officials regarding the ongoing extinguishing efforts in the region, Elban reported that the fire was caused by sparks from a downed power line in the area.

Stating that the region is predominantly scrubland, Elban said, "The fire spread very rapidly due to the very hot and dry weather, combined with strong winds."

Explaining that teams from the İzmir Regional Directorate of Forestry, AFAD, the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Fire Department, the gendarmerie, police, and other institutions are on the ground to intervene in the fire, Elban continued as follows:

"Despite the rapid intervention of the teams, the fire unfortunately spread to a certain extent. There is a summer housing complex consisting of 440 residences in the region; it does not threaten any other residential areas besides this site. All our teams are working intensively to ensure the fire does not reach this site and to prevent any loss of life or property. When we warned our citizens to leave the area without putting themselves at risk, the vast majority of our citizens heeded our warning and left their homes. However, since 34 of our citizens resisted leaving until the last moment, we evacuated them by sea using Coast Guard boats, as the land route posed a risk."

Elban stated that the fire does not pose a risk to either the housing complex or the residential areas in the region.

Explaining that the intervention in the fire in Karşıyaka Yamanlar is continuing, Elban said, "A fire started in our Menderes district around 5:30 PM, and it is ongoing. The fires in Tire and Bayındır have been completely brought under control. However, the ones here, in Menderes, and in Yamanlar are still active. Nevertheless, the intensity of the fire in Yamanlar has been reduced. Hopefully, we will have good news soon." he stated.

"WE ARE FIGHTING AN ENEMY THAT DOES NOT TIRE AND DOES NOT NEED SLEEP"

Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı, who inspected the teams' efforts on the ground and from the air during the forest fire in the Bozdoğan district of Aydın, made statements regarding the latest status of the fires.

Stating that the teams fighting the fire are showing great dedication, Minister Yumaklı said, "We are fighting an enemy in this fire struggle that does not tire, does not feel pain, and does not need sleep."

Using the expression, "Our teammates get tired, stay sleep-deprived, get hungry, and get thirsty. Efforts are being made to meet these people's needs in the best way possible," Minister Yumaklı added, "However, we must not forget that this struggle cannot be won without the support of our citizens."

"A SMALL PRECAUTION CAN PREVENT GREAT DISASTERS"

Emphasizing that they expect sensitivity from citizens, Yumaklı stated that no activities that could create fire or flames should be carried out outside of closed areas until September 15.

Reminding that most of the fires are caused by simple negligence, Minister Yumaklı said, "A simple garden cleaning, an operation performed with a hacksaw, or even a cigarette butt can lead to a major fire. One should not say 'nothing will happen,' because it does. A small precaution, a little attention, can prevent the days-long struggle of hundreds of people here and the expenditure of state resources."

Stating that five active fires were ongoing during the day, Yumaklı said, "One of these fires is in Aydın, the other is in İzmir Karşıyaka. Additionally, there were fires in Manisa Gördes, Bolu Göynük, and Karabük Ovacık. The energy of the four fires, excluding Aydın Bozdoğan, decreased from time to time. However, meteorological conditions, especially changes in wind direction, caused these fires to regain strength. Our friends fought very seriously throughout the day. As of now, we can say that their energy has been reduced."

9 KM FIRE LINE IN AYDIN

Stating that there is a total of nine kilometers of fire line on the southern and northern flanks in Aydın, Minister Yumaklı said, "Due to strong winds, the fire spread over a wide area and rugged terrain made intervention difficult. However, our teams put up a very intense fight here as well and handled the large portions in the middle areas," and thanked all the teams who have not slept for three nights and the public institutions that provided support.

"THERE ARE CURRENTLY 8 ACTIVE FIRES"

Stating that 3 aircraft, 15 helicopters, 60 water tenders, and 390 personnel participated in the firefighting efforts in Yamanlar, İzmir during the day, Yumaklı said that 7 aircraft, 15 helicopters, 62 land vehicles, and 368 personnel were on duty in Aydın.

Providing information about 3 new fires during the day, Minister Yumaklı said, "One of them is next to the dam in Menderes, İzmir. Immediately, 6 aircraft, 4 helicopters, 22 land vehicles, and 160 personnel intervened there as well. Of course, these also cause our forces to be divided. The second fire started in Eşme, Uşak. The fire started at 13:19, and the first intervention was made at 13:30. It started in a forested area. 3 helicopters, 14 water tenders, and 79 personnel were assigned here. The third fire occurred in Karaburun, İzmir, while I was coming here. This fire has also been reported, and our colleagues are making their plans. As a result, we currently have 8 active fires. The energy of 4 of these has been reduced, and work will continue throughout the night regarding the other 3, including the one in Aydın where we are currently located."

BOLU

Efforts are underway to extinguish the fire that broke out in the forested area near Bekirfakılar village in the Göynük district of Bolu the day before yesterday at noon. 

2 PEOPLE ARRESTED

Two of the 4 people detained due to the forest fires have been arrested. Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Abdulkadir Polat, who conducted inspections in the region, said that the fire, which was initially continuing at 12 different points, has been reduced to 3, and that residential areas are not under threat.

AYDIN

Aerial and ground interventions continue for the forest fire in the Bozdoğan district of Aydın.

The forest fire that broke out in the upper parts of Alhisar Neighborhood was intervened with from the air and ground throughout the night.

Teams carried out intensive work in the Hışımlar, Güre, Örmepınar, and Yeşilköy neighborhoods, located between the borders of the Kavaklıdere district of Muğla and the Bozdoğan district, where the flames intensified.

A fire broke out in a forested area in Alhisar Neighborhood of Bozdoğan district on August 16 for reasons yet to be determined, and some houses in Örmepınar Neighborhood were evacuated.

FIRE IN AYDIN REACHES MUĞLA KAVAKLIDERE BORDER

With the effect of the wind in the region, the flames reached the border of Çavdır Neighborhood in the Kavaklıdere district of Muğla. While work continues with bulldozers and heavy machinery to prevent the flames from spreading, fire crews are standing by on the line against potential flare-ups.

Local residents moved away from the area as a precaution using their own tractors. Gendarmerie teams are not allowing civilian vehicles into the area, with the exception of construction machinery, fire trucks, and vehicles responding to the fire.

KARABÜK

Efforts are underway to extinguish the fire that broke out yesterday at approximately 14:19 in the forested area between the villages of Alınca and Beydini in the Ovacık district of Karabük. The fire is being tackled with 61 vehicles and 192 personnel.

The operations also involve fire trucks, water tankers, fire engines, and bulldozers belonging to the Karabük, Ovacık, and Yenice Forest Management Directorates, the Karabük DSI 234th Branch Directorate, the Provincial Special Administration, the municipalities of Karabük, Ovacık, and Yenice, Kardemir AŞ, and the Regional Directorate of Forestry.

Vehicles from the Bartın and Karadeniz Ereğli Forest Management Directorates are en route to the area, and efforts to extinguish the fire are ongoing. Two firefighting helicopters belonging to the Gendarmerie Command are also supporting the operations.

MANİSA

Aerial and ground interventions continue for the forest fires that began on August 14 in the Gördes district of Manisa and spread to the Salihli and Gölmarmara districts.

Aircraft are also supporting the fires, which teams worked to bring under control from the ground throughout the night, as daylight broke.

The flames are being tackled by 7 helicopters, 66 fire trucks, 22 water supply vehicles, 6 bulldozers, 7 ground crews, and 550 personnel, including 47 technical staff, belonging to the İzmir Regional Directorate of Forestry.

A fire broke out on August 14 for an as-yet undetermined reason in a forested area near Boyalı neighborhood in Gördes district; the flames, which spread due to wind and terrain conditions, reached the borders of Salihli and Gölmarmara districts, and residents in the neighborhoods of Yeniköy and Karayakup in Gördes, as well as Hacıhıdır, Kemer, Kale, and Kurttutan in Salihli, which remained within the fire zone, were evacuated.

News Source: 12punto