22.07.2025 08:01
The forest fire that started in the Geyve district of Sakarya and spread to Bilecik has been ongoing for 36 hours. Due to the extensive area affected by the fire, a total of 6 villages in two provinces have been evacuated. As the flames illuminated the night, the D-650 highway was closed to traffic, and a gas station located by the roadside was evacuated as a precaution.
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On July 20, around 5:00 PM, the fire that broke out was intervened in a coordinated manner with all relevant institutions from the very first moment. On the second day of the fire, 12 helicopters and 6 firefighting planes provided aerial support for the extinguishing efforts, while many fire trucks and heavy machinery personnel were mobilized from the ground to extinguish the fire. As night fell, firefighting efforts continued from the ground. Citizens are also supporting the teams fighting to extinguish the fire, which has spread over a wide area. After approximately 28 hours, fires have reignited in some areas.
4 VILLAGES EVACUATED Meanwhile, the fire spread to Bilecik due to the wind. As a precaution, 4 villages in Bilecik were evacuated. The D-650 highway in the Osmaneli region was closed to traffic. Transportation is being provided via the old road. Ground firefighting efforts are continuing intensively.
LONG VEHICLE QUEUES FORMED, THE KEBAB SHOP AND GAS STATION ON THE ROAD WERE EVACUATED Due to the ongoing forest fire, a long queue of vehicles formed on the D-650 highway, which was closed in both directions. Traffic is being directed through the old Osmaneli Pamukova road in a controlled manner. Additionally, a kebab shop and a gas station on the road were evacuated due to the fire. Teams are continuing their efforts to control the flames from the ground.
GOVERNOR SOZER: WE HAVE REDUCED THE FIRE'S ENERGY Bilecik Governor Faik Oktay Sozer visited the 4 evacuated villages due to the risk of the forest fire spreading. After receiving information about the firefighting efforts, Governor Sozer stated that they have reduced the energy of the forest fire. He expressed that the teams would continue their work until morning, saying, "We have a very serious team. Our team will work until morning. As you can see, this is our Kazancı village, and preventive measures are continuing here against the possibility of fire in the inner areas. Similarly, we have taken our precautions in Borcak village as well. We hope that the wind will calm down, and when it does, we believe that we will quickly reduce its energy and complete our extinguishing efforts with these teams. At the moment, we have reduced its energy in the first phase, but we cannot say it is under control. However, we have precautions in place, and our efforts will continue until morning. Thank God we evacuated 4 villages, but we have no loss of life. There is also no loss in terms of livestock. This makes us happy," he said.
"THOSE WHO TOOK THEIR TRACTORS AND WATER TANKERS RAN TO HELP" Sozer stated that all citizens, including those from the evacuated villages, participated in the firefighting efforts, saying, "Those who took their tractors and water tankers ran to help. They were on the field asking, 'What can we do, Mr. Governor?' This really made us very happy. This cooperation and solidarity gave courage to our extinguishing efforts. I would like to express my gratitude once again to my fellow citizens of Bilecik," he said.
FLAMES FORMED A WHIRLPOOL The most striking image revealing the scale of the fire was shared by the General Director of Forestry, Bekir Karacabey, on social media. In the footage shared by Karacabey, moments were captured where the flames spiraled upwards towards the sky, creating a 'fire whirl'. Karacabey shared those moments with the words, "We are facing an enemy that never gets tired, never rests, and never stops. The greatest motivation for our heroes against this enemy is their love for the green homeland. With your heartfelt support and the courage of our heroes, we will defeat this enemy; we will succeed together," he stated.
95 SMALL LIVESTOCK PERISHED In the fire that spread to Bilecik, a fire broke out for an unknown reason in the hayloft of a farm located in the Dikenliboğaz area of the Gölpazarı highway. Due to the rapidly spreading fire, the barn section of the farm also burned. As a result of the fire, 95 small livestock in the barn perished. Upon notification, gendarmerie and fire brigade teams were dispatched to the scene. The fire, which grew due to the wind, also spread to the forested area. The efforts of the forestry and fire brigade teams to control the fire with water trucks and vehicles are ongoing. Citizens are also helping the teams with tractors and water tankers to bring the fire under control.
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