16.08.2026 12:40
The judicial process regarding forest fires across Turkey since June 1, 2026, continues. According to data from the Directorate of Natural Disasters and Accidents, 9 of the 43 suspects found responsible for fires caused by sabotage and arson attempts, as well as by scandalous negligence such as burning trash, welding sparks, beekeeping smokers, and heating garden hoses, remain under arrest, while judicial control measures have been applied to 18 suspects.
According to the data announced by the Department of Natural Disasters and Accidents, 43 suspects have been identified in the judicial investigations conducted regarding 64 major forest fires that have occurred in 22 provinces since June 1, 2026. While 9 of the suspects remain in custody, judicial control measures have been imposed on 18 people.
According to the official data reported to the Ministry by the Chief Public Prosecutor's Offices, the judicial process is being carried out on a large scale regarding 64 forest fires that occurred in 22 provinces, namely Adana, Adıyaman, Antalya, Aydın, Balıkesir, Bilecik, Bursa, Çanakkale, Edirne, Gaziantep, Hakkari, İzmir, Kocaeli, Kırklareli, Kütahya, Manisa, Mersin, Muğla, Osmaniye, Sinop, Tunceli, and Yalova.
9 SUSPECTS STILL IN CUSTODY Within the scope of the investigations, arrest warrants were issued for 11 of the suspects taken into custody. While 2 of the arrested suspects (the suspects of the fire in İzmir Torbalı Ayrancılar District) were released during the trial phase, the custody status of 9 suspects continues.
Additionally, the procedures for 3 suspects taken into custody by the Balıkesir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office regarding the fire that occurred on August 15, 2026, in Büyükbostancı District of Altıeylül district of Balıkesir are ongoing. Within the scope of the investigations, 11 suspects were released after their statements.
NEGLIGENCE AND INTENT REVEALED BEHIND THE FIRES The investigation details regarding the suspects who were arrested and subjected to judicial control also revealed the causes of the fires:
Arson and Sabotage: 1 suspect who caused a fire by burning a hut in Alidağı location in Adıyaman Aydınloluk Village, 1 suspect found to have deliberately set fire to the forest in Muğla Ortaca Atakent District, and 2 suspects who committed the crime of intentionally burning a forest in Balıkesir Bandırma (Gönen Hasanbey Dist.) were arrested and sent to prison. Welding and Heat Treatments: 2 suspects who caused a fire with sparks while welding in Balıkesir Burhaniye Kumgedik District were arrested. Judicial control measures were imposed on 1 suspect who started a fire while welding in the garden in Bandırma Topağaç District and 1 suspect who was cutting with an angle grinder on a scrap vehicle in Muğla Ortaca. Negligence and Carelessness: 1 suspect was arrested for a fire caused by a fire lit to heat an irrigation hose in Aydın Çine, while judicial control was imposed on 1 suspect. 1 person who spread fire to the forest while burning trash in Sinop Gerze and 1 person who lit a fire to burn copper cable in Balıkesir Edremit were also among those arrested. Beekeeping and Agricultural Activities: Judicial control was imposed on 1 suspect who caused a fire with sparks from a bee smoker in Balıkesir Kepsut and 1 suspect who acted against the duty of care and attention while beekeeping in Bilecik Bakırköy (house arrest and a ban on traveling abroad). Judicial control decisions were also made for suspects who set fire to grass to cook food in İzmir Selçuk and who burned trash on leased land in Edirne Meriç. Machinery and Mechanical Failures: Judicial control was imposed on 3 suspects who started a fire while performing stone crushing work with a work machine in Manisa Saruhanlı. 3 suspects related to a fire caused by a mechanical failure of a combine harvester in Kütahya Altıntaş and 3 suspects related to a fuse explosion on an electricity pole in Yalova Armutlu were released under judicial control.It was reported that judicial control measures were also imposed on 2 suspects in Salihli Kula, who were found in the fire area and stated that they were trying to extinguish the fire.