23.07.2025 21:45
The forest fire that started in the Geyve district of Sakarya and spread to Bilecik is still being fought, while 7 villages threatened by the flames have been evacuated. The Mekece-Bilecik-Bozüyük highway has been closed to traffic in both directions.
The forest fire that started in the Geyve district of Sakarya and spread to Bilecik has largely been brought under control, but after the wind caused it to grow again, the number of evacuated villages has risen to 7 with the evacuation of Selçik Village in Osmaneli district.
FLAMES GROW AGAIN IN BILECIK
The fire that started on July 20 in the forested area of Hacılar Neighborhood in Geyve, which crossed the border into Osmaneli district of Bilecik the next day, continues to be fought tirelessly to bring it completely under control. Efforts were paused for aerial intervention last night, but ground operations continued throughout the night. Aerial intervention resumed at dawn to extinguish the fire.
ROAD CLOSED TO TRAFFIC
Efforts continue from the air and ground to completely extinguish the fire, which has largely been brought under control but has grown again due to the wind. Due to flames and smoke that occasionally arise from the wind, the Mekece-Bilecik-Bozüyük highway has been closed to traffic in both directions.
FLAMES REACHED THE ICHEMELER FACILITY
The Prof. Dr. Yunus Söylet Healing Icmeler Facility, owned by Osmaneli Municipality, which was evacuated earlier due to the fire on the Istanbul-Osmaneli highway and contains 13 bungalows, 2 hotels, and 1 administrative building, has also been adversely affected by the dense smoke in the area. A mosque in the facility has become unusable due to the fire.
7 VILLAGES HAVE BEEN EVACUATED
Due to the fire, which frequently changes direction with the wind, Selçik village in Osmaneli district is also being evacuated. Residents and their animals are being moved to a safe area. Due to the extensive fire, the villages of Kızılöz, Büyükyenice, Kazancı, Borcak, Medetli, and Ciciler on the Bilecik side have been evacuated.
Meanwhile, villagers are supporting the "firefighters" who are working tirelessly to bring the fire under control by using water-filled tankers tied to their tractors.
INTERVENTION CONTINUES IN SAKARYA
Meanwhile, a fire broke out for an undetermined reason in the forested area located between the neighborhoods of Karaçam and Nuruosmaniye in the Geyve district of Sakarya. Upon notification, teams from the Forest Regional Directorate, fire department, civil search and rescue associations, and district municipalities were dispatched to the area.
Due to the difficulty of fighting the flames in the steep and sloped terrain, fire-fighting planes and helicopters have also been directed to the area. The D-650 highway, which was closed due to the fire, has been opened to traffic towards Adapazarı, while traffic flow towards Bilecik is being managed carefully.
NEIGHBORHOOD EVACUATED AS A PRECAUTION
Nuruosmaniye Neighborhood has been evacuated as a precaution. Birol Yıldırım, a resident of the neighborhood, stated that no one was in the houses. Yıldırım, who noted that the fire was spreading and that extinguishing efforts were ongoing, expressed his gratitude to the responding teams.
Meanwhile, residents who noticed the fire spreading to the grassy area next to a house intervened. With the support of a helicopter, the growth of the flames was prevented. The teams' efforts to extinguish the fire continue from the air and ground. Four fire-fighting planes, five helicopters, ten water tankers, heavy machinery, and 84 personnel are supporting the efforts.