23.08.2026 14:30
The details of the judicial balance sheet regarding forest fires announced by Justice Minister Akın Gürlek have been revealed. Of the 46 suspects identified in connection with 73 fires that broke out in 25 provinces since June 1, 12 have been arrested, and the investigation files have revealed that the fires broke out due to reasons such as arson, source sparks, burning garbage, and mechanical failures.
The details of the judicial report announced by Justice Minister Akın Gürlek regarding the fight against forest fires have been revealed. According to data prepared by the Department of Natural Disasters and Accidents; the details of the investigations conducted by the Chief Public Prosecutor's Offices regarding 73 forest fires that occurred in 25 provinces across Turkey as of June 1, 2026, have come to light.
12 OF 46 SUSPECTS ARRESTED
Within the scope of the investigations, 12 of the 46 suspects identified were arrested, judicial control measures were imposed on 21, and 13 people were released. While 2 of the arrested suspects were released during the prosecution phase, 10 people remain in custody.
The judicial investigations deepened into the causes of the fires revealed the bitter truths leading to disasters, ranging from negligence to arson, from garden cleaning to mechanical failures.
THOSE WHO DELIBERATELY SET FORESTS ON FIRE ARE BEHIND BARS
According to the information in the investigation file, it was determined that some fires were started intentionally. Accordingly;
In İzmir Torbalı, 2 suspects, who were determined to have deliberately started the fire that occurred in Ayrancılar Neighborhood on June 3, 2026, were arrested by the Torbalı Criminal Court of Peace. The suspects were later released by the court during the prosecution phase.
In Adıyaman, in the fire in Aydınoluk village on July 27, 2026, 1 suspect, who confessed to damaging and burning a lodge located in the Alidağı area, was arrested by the decision of the Adıyaman Criminal Court of Peace.
In Muğla Ortaca, 1 suspect, who was understood to have deliberately burned the forest in the upper area of Killik Cemetery in Atakent Neighborhood on July 25, 2026, was arrested.
In Balıkesir Bandırma, an arrest warrant was issued for 2 suspects, who were determined to have committed the crime of deliberately setting fire to a forest in Hasanbey Neighborhood of Gönen district on July 23, 2026.
NEGLIGENCE AND CARELESSNESS LED TO DISASTERS
It was determined that a significant portion of the fires resulted from "acting contrary to the duty of care and attention."
Welding and blacksmithing works:
On July 29, 2 suspects, who caused a fire with sparks that flew while welding together in Balıkesir Burhaniye Kumgedik Neighborhood, were arrested.
On August 15, of the 4 people carrying out iron pipe joining work in Balıkesir Altıeylül (Büyükbostancı) area, 1 was arrested and judicial control was imposed on 3.
On August 1, the suspect, who started a fire while welding in a garden in Bandırma Topağaç Neighborhood, was given a travel ban abroad and judicial control, on the grounds that the crime was not among the catalog offenses.
On July 14, a judicial control measure was imposed on the person who caused a fire while cutting scrap metal with an angle grinder in Muğla Ortaca.
Burning trash, grass and cables:
On August 12, 1 person, who caused the fire to spread to the forest while burning trash in Sinop Gerze Boyalıca Village, was arrested.
On August 13, 1 suspect, who caused a fire while burning copper cables in an area surrounded by stones in Balıkesir Edremit Kadıköy Neighborhood, was arrested.
On August 8, a judicial control decision was issued for the person who burned trash on a rented plot in Edirne Meriç Karayusuflu Village, and for the person who burned grass in his garden to cook food on July 30 in İzmir Selçuk Şirince, causing a fire due to the wind.
Agricultural operations and beekeeping:
On July 30, of the people who lit a fire to loosen an irrigation hose in Aydın Çine Kavşit Neighborhood, 1 was arrested while 1 received judicial control.
On July 5, a travel ban abroad was imposed on the beekeeper who caused a fire with sparks from the bellows in his hand while tending to beehives in Balıkesir Kepsut. On August 13, house arrest and judicial control were imposed on the person who caused a fire in a beekeeping area in Bilecik.
On August 1, a judicial control decision was issued for 3 of the 4 people who created sparks while crushing stones with a work machine in Manisa Saruhanlı.
TECHNICAL AND MECHANICAL FAILURES ALSO UNDER SCRUTINY
In the investigations, fires caused by environmental conditions and equipment failures were also taken into judicial process.
In Kütahya Altıntaş, regarding the fire that broke out as a result of a mechanical failure of the combine harvester while harvesting a wheat field in Beşkarış Village on July 29, a travel ban abroad and judicial control were imposed on 3 suspects.
In Yalova Armutlu, regarding the fire that broke out from a fuse exploding on an electricity pole in Kapaklı Village on July 30, a judicial control decision was issued for 3 suspects found to be connected.
The Ministry of Justice and the Chief Public Prosecutor's Offices reported that all investigations are being carried out meticulously and decisively in order to protect the forested areas called the "Green Homeland."