Urla Mayor Selçuk Balkan speaks to 12punto... Fire started due to summer house renovations

While the fire was being fought from the air and ground, 120 homes were evacuated as a precaution. Speaking to 12punto, Urla Mayor Selçuk Balkan stated that the fire was caused by renovation work and that there was no loss of life or property.

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Urla Mayor Selçuk Balkan speaks to 12punto... Fire started due to summer house renovations

Semih Demirhan

A forest fire has broken out in the Urla district of İzmir. Those who saw the smoke rising from the area reported the situation to the authorities. Upon the report, 18 aircraft, including 9 planes and 9 helicopters belonging to the Regional Directorate of Forestry, as well as 30 fire trucks, 10 water tenders, 3 bulldozers, and 3 ground crews were dispatched to the region.

Additionally, a total of 120 homes in 2 nearby residential complexes were evacuated as a precaution. While firefighting efforts continue with interventions from the air and ground, Urla Mayor Selçuk Balkan explained the latest situation in the region to 12punto.

'FIRE STARTED DUE TO RENOVATION'

Stating that fires broke out in two different areas in the Urla vicinity, Balkan said, "One of the fires is on the side of Yağcılar village. That fire is currently under control. The other fire is on the Çeşmealtı, Güvendik side. The fire started due to a renovation. A summer house owner was doing renovations when the fire started."

Stating that there was no loss of life or property in the fire, Balkan expressed that the flames did not reach the houses in the residential complex, and that the residents were evacuated from their homes so they would not be affected by the smoke.

THERE WAS A FIRE YESTERDAY TOO

A forest fire broke out in the Yağcılar neighborhood of Urla yesterday at around 16:30, and the flames were brought under control today at around 11:00 as a result of the intensive efforts of the teams.

REBELLION FROM FORMER MP ZEYNEP ALTIOK

Former CHP MP Zeynep Altıok Akatlı rebelled against the fire in Urla in a post she made on a social media platform.

Stating that the fire reached her family's farm in Bozavlu, Altıok said, "Our animals, our olive trees! Lives are being extinguished at the hands of those grilling, picnickers, and those throwing cigarette butts/trash. An indescribable day. Our hands are tied, we are devastated. Unless the helicopter drops water, it's not something that can be handled with a hose in hand. July, we have given one more fire."