22.08.2026 17:01
In the Kağızman district of Kars, gasoline leaking on a closed balcony ignited when Naim Demirbaş entered the house with a cigarette. As a result of the flash fire, the couple Naim and Nezahat Demirbaş were injured in various parts of their bodies. The couple, who are receiving treatment in Erzurum, stated that their health condition is good and warned against keeping gasoline in the house.
Naim and Nezahat Demirbaş couple, who were injured in a flash fire caused by a cigarette after fuel leaked from a gasoline canister found on the closed balcony of their home in Kars, are trying to overcome the shock of the incident.
GASOLINE IGNITED WHEN HE ENTERED THE HOUSE WITH A CIGARETTE
Demirbaş, a 49-year-old father of four living in Kağızman, went to his home after watering the garden a week ago. When Demirbaş, who entered the house while smoking a cigarette, the gasoline in the canister he had left on the closed balcony for use in the tiller machine leaked onto the carpet, causing a flash fire. As his clothes caught fire during the flash, Demirbaş wanted to throw the gasoline canister outside when a fire broke out in the house.
BURNS OCCURRED ON THEIR BODIES
Meanwhile, Nezahat Demirbaş, who rushed to help her husband, was also injured in various parts of her body.
Naim Demirbaş, who tried to extinguish the fire in the house with his own means, suffered 2nd and 3rd degree burns on his face, head, arms, hands, and chest, while Nezahat Demirbaş had minor burns on various parts of her body. After initial intervention at Kağızman State Hospital, the couple was referred to the Burn Treatment Center at Erzurum City Hospital.
The Demirbaş couple, who are still undergoing treatment, are trying to overcome the shock of the incident. Naim Demirbaş said he went home after watering the garden in the morning.
"MY WIFE ALSO GOT BURNED WHILE HELPING ME"
Explaining that he had left a canister full of gasoline on the closed balcony of the house for use in the tiller machine, Demirbaş said, "The gasoline in the canister had leaked, and as I entered the house with a cigarette, a flash fire suddenly occurred. I lost consciousness from the flash. My wife also got burned while helping me."
Demirbaş stated that deep burns occurred on his body after the flash.
"NEVER LEAVE GASOLINE INSIDE THE HOUSE"
Explaining that he tried to throw the canister outside to prevent further damage to the house during the fire and got burned more at that time, Demirbaş continued: "While throwing the canister out of the house, my face and eyes were burning; when my wife saw me burning, she came to help. While putting out the fire, she also got burned. Let no one make a mistake like mine; never leave gasoline inside the house. You never know what will happen. Thank God, the doctors and healthcare workers at Erzurum City Hospital are very good and constantly attending to us."
Emre Nohutçu, one of the doctors at the Burn Treatment Center, said they follow up about 50 patients per year with gasoline flame burn cases.
"THEY OVERCAME THE DIFFICULT PROCESS"
Stating that the fire may have been caused by gasoline leaking onto the carpet and ash falling from a cigarette, Nohutçu said, "Mr. Naim got burned with his wife while extinguishing the fire at home. When they arrived, they had 2nd degree burns. His wife was slightly better, but Mr. Naim's burns were deeper. They overcame the difficult process. Our follow-ups continue. We will open and examine their wounds again, and if they are as we expect, we will apply a special material and discharge them."
Nohutçu drew attention to the importance of correct intervention in such situations and noted the following:
"In gasoline-related flame burns, when water is poured, the flames intensify even more; this is definitely wrong. What can be done is to cover the burning areas with a wet blanket or intervene with a fire extinguisher."