19.07.2024 00:20
Efforts are continuing to extinguish the forest fire that broke out in Zafer neighborhood, between Gaziemir and Buca districts of Izmir. In addition to 7 planes and 16 helicopters, aerial intervention is also being carried out in the forest fire. The flames have reached the outskirts of residential areas. Houses on Çamlık Street in Sarnıç neighborhood, which is close to the flames, have started to be evacuated. Tankers, fire trucks, and TOMAs belonging to the Regional Directorate of Forestry have been deployed to create a barrier between the flames and the houses to prevent the fire from spreading to the homes.
The efforts to control the forest fire that broke out in the Gaziemir district of Izmir continue during the afternoon hours. The residents in the Sarnıç region are also intervening in the fire approaching residential areas.
7 planes, 16 helicopters, 35 fire trucks, 11 water supply vehicles, 4 bulldozers, 4 ground teams, and numerous firefighters were dispatched to intervene in the fire that broke out in the forested area in Zafer Mahallesi.
FLAMES APPROACHED RESIDENTIAL UNITS
In order to bring the fire under control, 5 helicopters belonging to the Land Forces Command and TOMA vehicles belonging to the Rapid Response Branch Directorate of the Izmir Provincial Police Department are also on duty. Beehives and small livestock pens in the region were evacuated due to the fire. The fire, which spread in different directions due to the change in the direction of the wind, approached the residential areas around the Sarnıç Picnic Area.
TEAMS SET UP A BARRIER BETWEEN HOUSES AND FLAMES
Due to the effective flames near residential areas, the Regional Directorate of Forestry and firefighting teams, along with TOMA vehicles, concentrated on this area. The residents also intervened against the flames that were about 100 meters away from their homes. It was observed that the residents, who wet the trees and their houses with hoses, had difficult moments due to the dense smoke.
"EXTRAORDINARY STRUGGLE IS UNDERWAY"
Görkem Duman, the Mayor of Buca, stated in his statement to the journalists after his examination in the fire area that the teams were making an extraordinary effort and that they faced difficulties due to the constant change in the direction of the wind. Duman, who stated that the fire stopped in some directions and cooling was done, also stated that the search and rescue teams of the municipality also participated in the work. Mayor Duman stated that there is a cement factory in the region and added that the allegations regarding a risk related to this are not true.
HE TRIED TO SAVE HIS HIVES
Kemal Korkmaz, who is engaged in beekeeping in Sarnıç, stated that 80 of his hives burned in the fire and he could save 20-30 hives, saying, "There is nothing to do. My expenses are not less than 500 thousand liras. My hives burned, everything burned. I'm sorry." A dog affected by the fire in this region was rescued by the surrounding residents by being taken on a motorcycle.
FLIGHTS RETURNED TO NORMAL
The air traffic, which was disrupted due to the fire being close to Adnan Menderes Airport and the rising smoke, returned to normal. It was reported that there was a passenger density at the airport due to the disruptions experienced.
POWER CUT APPLIED IN SARNIÇ NEIGHBORHOOD
A power cut was applied as a precaution in Sarnıç Mahallesi. The police and gendarmerie teams evacuated the residents from the region due to the threat of the flames to the surrounding houses. A barrier was set up between the fire and the houses with the vehicles of the Regional Directorate of Forestry and the fire department along with TOMA vehicles to prevent the flames from spreading to the houses.
EVACUATION OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS STARTED
The security forces have started to evacuate the houses on Çamlık Street in Sarnıç Mahallesi, where the flames are close. The fire is being intervened with night vision helicopters. The Provincial Police Director Celal Sel and the Provincial Gendarmerie Commander Brigadier General Osman Kılıç received information from their teams. The intervention of the Regional Directorate of Forestry and the fire department in the fire continues in the region.
Here are the photos from the region: