05.11.2026 14:51
Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı announced that in 2026 they responded to a total of 6,219 fires, 2,111 of which were forest fires and 4,108 of which were rural area fires. Stating that the number of forest fires decreased by 35 percent compared to the previous year, Yumaklı said that the burned forest area fell by approximately 68 percent to 24,527 hectares. Yumaklı emphasized that 86 percent of the fires were human-caused.
Minister Yumaklı evaluated forest fire fighting efforts and fire data for 2026 at a meeting he held with journalists.
Drawing attention to climate change increasing pressure on forests, Yumaklı said that the fight is not limited to extinguishing fires.
35 PERCENT DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF FOREST FIRES
Recalling that a total of 7,509 fires broke out in 2025, 3,224 of which were forest fires and 4,285 rural area fires, Yumaklı said, “This year, we responded to a total of 6,219 fires, 2,111 of which were forest fires and 4,108 rural area fires.”
Yumaklı stated that 24,527 hectares of forest area were affected by fires in 2026, meaning a decrease of approximately 68 percent compared with the previous year. Of the forest fires, 1,766 were brought under control in areas smaller than one hectare, and 96 percent were brought under control in areas smaller than 10 hectares.
86 PERCENT OF FIRES ARE HUMAN-CAUSED
Providing information on the causes of the fires, Yumaklı said, “86 percent of the fires were human-caused. 67 percent arose from negligence and carelessness, 16 percent from accidents, 3 percent from deliberate acts, and 14 percent from lightning.” It was also noted that 75 percent of forest fires started in non-forest areas.
TWO ACUTE PERIODS, 80 PERCENT OF THE BURNED AREA
Yumaklı stated that two acute periods occurred in 2026. During the 3-day period of July 29-31, 260 fires were responded to, and 255 of them were brought under control before spreading. In this period, 11,051 hectares were damaged. The largest fires affected 4,350 hectares in Muğla Seydikemer, 2,336 hectares in Aydın Çine, and 1,614 hectares in Balıkesir Gömeç.
In the second acute period on September 7-8, 147 fires were responded to in 2 days, and 8,553 hectares were affected. The largest fire of this period broke out in Adana Kozan with 4,661 hectares, and the second largest in Antalya Aksu with 3,134 hectares.
Saying that the most challenging factor in the fires was wind, Yumaklı reported that wind speed reached 63 kilometers per hour in Balıkesir Gömeç, while 12 percent humidity in Aydın Çine accelerated the spread of the fire. The area damaged during the two acute periods constituted 80 percent of the total burned area.
33 PERCENT DECREASE IN THE EU, 68 PERCENT IN TÜRKİYE
Noting that a total of 692,419 hectares of forest area in EU countries were affected by fires in 2026, Yumaklı said that accordingly, the burned area decreased by 33 percent in the EU and by 68 percent in Türkiye.
According to the comparison based on European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS) data, in 2026 the ratio of burned area to total forest assets was 1.24 percent in Canada, 1.23 percent in the USA, 1.09 percent in Spain, 1.06 percent in Portugal and Italy, 0.56 percent in France, and 0.54 percent in Greece. Yumaklı said, “Our country, however, is at a level of 0.1 percent, a much lower rate than all these countries.”
NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS REACHED 142,000
Stating that training, awareness-raising, and preventive measures constitute the first stage of the fight, Yumaklı announced that the number of forest fire volunteers, which was 13,000 in 2021, reached 142,000 in 2026. According to the data presented, 5,508,000 people received fire-related training this year.
Noting that 56 new fire pools and ponds were built this year and the total number rose to 4,852, Yumaklı said that there are 776 fire watchtowers nationwide, 194 of which are smart.
PERSONNEL EXCEEDED 28,000, NUMBER OF HELICOPTERS ROSE TO 119
Yumaklı said, “We increased the number of forest fire fighting personnel, which was 25,000 in 2025, to 28,065 in 2026. We raised our number of water tankers to 1,953, our number of first response vehicles to 2,766, and our number of heavy equipment to 878. These teams were deployed at 1,600 different points.”
Within the scope of the regional response centers created for the first time, three teams were deployed in each of Balıkesir, Bolu, Denizli, Konya, and Manisa. Noting that the number of aircraft was increased to 28 and the number of helicopters to 119, Yumaklı said that the instantaneous water dropping capacity, which was 73 tons in 2002, rose to 462 tons. Recording that forests are monitored with 14 Bayraktar TB2 unmanned aerial vehicles, Yumaklı reported that the number of aircraft bases also reached 69 with 11 new points.
RISK WARNING 7 DAYS IN ADVANCE
Noting that 64 percent of forests in Türkiye are located in first- and second-degree fire-sensitive areas, Yumaklı said that the Improved Fire Risk Map was put into practice this year for the first time. Yumaklı said, “With these maps, in which more than 40 parameters are evaluated, we sent special warnings to our forest management directorates 7 days in advance on high-risk days.”
It was reported that the forest road navigation system, temperature, humidity, and wind sensors installed in vehicles, the safe driver recognition system, and location tracking devices distributed to personnel were also gathered under the umbrella of the Forest Fire Management System.
“OPENING BURNT AREAS TO DEVELOPMENT IS NOT POSSIBLE”
Yumaklı, who argued that they fight disinformation as well as fires, said that according to the constitution it is not possible to open burnt forest areas to development and that these areas must be reforested. Yumaklı also reminded that they sent planes and helicopters to Spain and France, which fought severe fires this summer.
SAPLINGS WILL BE PLANTED IN 81 PROVINCES ON NOVEMBER 11
Announcing that on National Afforestation Day on November 11, at the COP31 summit in Antalya, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and UN Secretary-General António Guterres will plant saplings together, Yumaklı said the following:
“While the leaders plant their saplings in the Peace Forest we established in memory of COP31, we will also bring our saplings together with the soil in 81 provinces together with our citizens under the slogan ‘Breath for the Future, Peace for the World.’ On November 11, we expect all our citizens from 7 to 70 at the sapling planting areas in our provinces. ”
It was stated that citizens can adopt and donate saplings through the Breath for the Future website.
5 MAIN AND MORE THAN 30 SIDE EVENTS AT COP31
Stating that as the Ministry they will participate in COP31 with 5 main events and more than 30 side events, Yumaklı said that at the summit, the resilience of agriculture and food systems against the climate crisis, efficient management of water resources and protection of forest sink areas will be highlighted.
Announcing that the official launch of the Turquoise Connectivity Initiative (TNI) will be held and that they will host the international launch of the rural supply chains report prepared in cooperation with IFAD, Yumaklı noted that they will also lead the High-Level Dialogue on Integrated Fire Management.
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