03.07.2025 22:40
The Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, İbrahim Yumaklı, announced the latest situation regarding forest fires. Yumaklı stated, "The intensity of the Çeşme fire has decreased. In Ödemiş, the wind speed has reached up to 100 kilometers per hour. The fight against the fires in Buca and Ödemiş will continue until morning."
With the rise in temperatures during the summer season, forest fires have erupted across Turkey. While İzmir is going through tough days, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı announced the latest situation in the fight against the fires.
YUMAKLI: THE ENERGY OF THE ÇEŞME FIRE HAS BEEN REDUCED
Speaking to reporters in Ankara, Yumaklı said: "20 fires occurred. In each of them, we saw situations similar to the 2021 fires. We have achieved very good results during this challenging process. We have brought 621 of the 624 fires in the last week under control. Today, we fought against 9 major fires and brought 6 of them under control. The fire in Çeşme spread over a very large area. The energy of the Çeşme fire has been reduced.
Throughout the night, they began to create firebreaks to prevent the fires from jumping to different areas. We hope to provide much better news regarding this fire tomorrow. We received a report in Ödemiş, and due to the wind, it spread over a very large area. Our fight against the Ödemiş fire continues. Today, we lost one of our friends as a martyr, and one is currently in a state of intubation. We also lost one of our citizens. Today, we will, of course, extinguish these fires as a duty in memory of our martyr, and we will take care of their legacies. After our law enforcement officers who gave their lives for the defense of the homeland, the General Directorate of Forestry has the second highest number of martyrs.
"THE FIGHT FOR ÖDEMİŞ AND BUCA WILL CONTINUE"
During this time, 10 planes, 25 helicopters, and our intervention vehicles, along with the State Hydraulic Works (DSİ), highways, and municipalities, all participated in the fight against the 3 fires in İzmir. The Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Interior, and AFAD are all involved with their resources. There is a very strong wind. In Ödemiş, the wind speed has reached up to 100 kilometers. Our friends will continue to fight for Ödemiş and Buca.
"NO ONE HAS THE RIGHT TO DEMORALIZE OUR FRIENDS FIGHTING ON THE GROUND"
This is a war; we will win this war, and I have no doubt about it. However, while our friends are fighting on the front lines, baseless claims, social media obsessions, and disinformation are exhausting us. No one has the right to demoralize our friends fighting on the ground. We will green every square meter that burns. Every burned area will be reforested by the end of the following year.
"PLEASE DO NOT LIGHT FIRES OUTSIDE"
Let’s make a clear announcement from here; our announcement to those who send nonsensical messages from where they are is to contact us, and we will show them. In the coming days, there is a warning for very strong winds, extreme temperatures, and low humidity. Similar meteorological events are occurring worldwide. Please do not light fires outside because everything you see on the screens today starts from a single spark.
What has exhausted us the most was the opening of a new front regarding forest fires. If it weren't for that indifference in Buca, we would have been able to give good news from Ödemiş. As of today, let’s spend this week without lighting fires outside; let’s not open new fronts. Let’s ensure that no fire breaks out, and let’s take pride in that."
FIGHTING AGAINST FLAMES IN ÖDEMİŞ WITH TIME
The fire that broke out in the Tosunlar neighborhood of Ödemiş at 21:05 last night affected a wide area due to the wind. Throughout the night, teams intervened from the ground to bring the fire under control. The neighborhoods of Tosunlar, Suçıktı, Köseler, and Üzümlü, which were reached by the flames, were evacuated. Despite all the interventions by the teams, the fire has not yet been brought under control due to the strong wind.
FOREST WORKER MARTYRED
After the sad news that an 81-year-old bedridden man named İbrahim Erkan died from smoke inhalation in the fire area this morning, another sad news came. According to the information received, a bulldozer operator named İbrahim Demir (39), who came from Konya to intervene in the forest fire in Ödemiş, was trapped in the flames when his vehicle broke down. İbrahim Demir lost his life in the incident, while his colleague Ragıp Şahin was seriously injured. Ragıp Şahin, who suffered second-degree burns on his body, is being treated in the hospital.
Meanwhile, it was learned that the deceased İbrahim Demir was married and the father of two children, and he started working in the General Directorate of Forestry in 2008.
IZMIR-AYDIN HIGHWAY CLOSED TO TRAFFIC
As the flames advanced rapidly, the İzmir-Aydın Highway was closed to traffic.
TWO ARRESTS IN BUCA
A fire broke out in the forested area of Zafer Neighborhood in Buca district of İzmir for an undetermined reason. Upon notification, 3 planes, 3 helicopters, 16 water tankers, 3 water supply vehicles, and bulldozers from the İzmir Regional Directorate of Forestry were dispatched to the area.
The teams continue their efforts to bring the fire under control. While the teams are struggling to carry out their work due to the strong wind in the area, citizens are also providing support.
Three forest workers affected by smoke while intervening in the fire were treated in ambulances in the area. Additionally, two suspects were arrested for allegedly causing the fire with sparks while cutting iron for ongoing construction in the Olduruk area of Zafer Neighborhood with a spiral machine. The suspects' processing at the gendarmerie is ongoing.
FIRE IN THE DUMP SPREAD TO THE FORESTED AREA
The fire that started in the dump in the Gaziemir district of İzmir and spread to the forested area is being intervened from the air and ground. The fire, which grew due to the wind, also spread to the Otokent Gallery Site in Buca district. The teams' efforts to bring the fire under control are ongoing.
FIRE CONTINUES IN ÇEŞME
While some houses in the area were evacuated in Çeşme, teams tried to control the flames with 6 planes, 18 helicopters, and numerous ground vehicles. As the extinguishing efforts, supported by volunteer teams from the Seferihisar region, did not yield results, the villages of Germiyan, Karaköy, and Nohutlu, threatened by the flames, were evacuated. According to information from the Regional Directorate of Forestry, as of sunrise, the intervention in the fire continues with 2 planes, 6 helicopters, 39 water tankers, 14 water supply vehicles, and 4 bulldozers in the area.
3 RURAL NEIGHBORHOODS EVACUATED IN ÖDEMİŞ FIRE
Meanwhile, a fire broke out in the Tosunlar neighborhood of Ödemiş at 21:05 last night. It affected a wide area due to the wind. Throughout the night, teams intervened from the ground to bring the fire under control. The neighborhoods of Tosunlar, Suçıktı, and Köseler, which were reached by the flames, were evacuated. With the sunrise, it was reported that the intervention in the fire continues in the area with 2 planes, 9 helicopters, 35 water tankers, 9 water supply vehicles, and 4 bulldozers.
OLD MAN DIED IN THE FIRE
During the evacuations in the Suçıktı neighborhood, a burned corpse was allegedly found in a house that had been turned to ashes by the flames. It was learned that the corpse belonged to İbrahim Erkan, an 81-year-old bedridden patient.
HIS WIFE LEFT THE HOUSE TO SEEK HELP
It was stated that the unfortunate man lived with his wife, and during the fire, his wife had to leave the house to seek help.
Details are coming...