Forest Fire

Information on the Fires Continuing for 4 Days in Turkey

Serious forest fires have been ongoing in Turkey for the last 4 days. According to statements from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, out of 624 fires that have broken out across the country in the last week, 622 have been brought under control. However, firefighting efforts are still continuing in some regions.
Main Provinces Where Fires Are Still Active
As of now, there are ongoing fires in the provinces of İzmir, Manisa, and Hatay.

• İzmir: Forest fires, especially in the Ödemiş and Buca districts, are still active. The fire in Çeşme, however, has been brought under control. In İzmir, one forest worker was martyred, and a bedridden citizen lost their life. It's reported that the fires spread rapidly due to strong winds, and some settlements have been evacuated.
• Manisa: Efforts to combat fires in the Akhisar, Kula, and Ahmetli districts are ongoing. The fires in Manisa have also been continuing for 4 days, and strong winds are making it difficult to bring them under control.
• Hatay: Fires in the Antakya district are also among those still active. It's stated that strong winds have also caused challenging moments during firefighting efforts there.
  Firefighting Efforts and Scope
  To combat the fires, a large fleet and personnel from the General Directorate of Forestry, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, are deployed in the field. According to the released data:
• 27 airplanes, 105 helicopters, and 14 UAVs are being utilized.
• Nearly 6,000 water tenders and initial response vehicles are intervening.
• 25,000 forest personnel and 131,000 volunteers are also supporting the efforts.
• Since the beginning of summer, aerial vehicles have performed 16,035 sorties, dropping 52,000 tons of water from the air alone.
  Causes of the Fires
  A large majority of forest fires are caused by human factors. Negligence and accidents constitute the primary reasons for these fires. The main causes include:
• Negligence and Carelessness: Stubble burning, landfill fires, hunting, shepherd's fires, unextinguished cigarette butts and matches thrown on the ground, and leaving picnic fires without fully extinguishing them.
• Accidents: Power lines (high-voltage lines), traffic accidents.
• Natural Causes: Situations like lightning strikes can also cause fires, but human-caused fires account for a larger percentage.
• Climate Change and Drought: Rising temperatures and prolonged drought periods due to global warming make forests more vulnerable to fires and accelerate their spread.
  Authorities emphasize that a large portion of the fires originate from simple acts of lighting fires or negligence, urging increased public awareness.
  I hope this information is helpful. Is there anything else you'd like to know?