Fire in İzmir flares up again after being brought under control
The fire that started in İzmir’s Buca district and spread to Gaziemir, threatening residential areas, has flared up again despite efforts to control it overnight. Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, had announced that the fires, including those in Buca-Gaziemir, were under control. However, flames were seen rising again shortly after his statement.
Fire Details and Response Efforts
The fire in İzmir, which began around 1 PM yesterday in the Buca district and spread to Gaziemir, quickly grew due to the wind. The Regional Directorate of Forestry, fire brigades, and numerous NGOs have been actively fighting the blaze.
Equipment and Personnel Deployed
The General Directorate of Forestry responded with 27 aircraft, including 7 planes and 20 helicopters, 4 of which have night vision capabilities. Additionally, they deployed 40 water tenders (sprinklers), 9 water supply vehicles, 4 bulldozers, and 4 ground teams. Local municipalities contributed 21 tankers and 5 water tenders, and 5 police TOMA vehicles were also used in the firefighting efforts.
Izmir Governor shared on social media that the response included 7 planes, 23 helicopters, 2 trailer tractors, 98 water tenders, 19 water tankers, 1 tracked tractor, 21 heavy-duty tankers, 8 bulldozers, 13 TOMA vehicles, 69 motorcycle police teams, 26 traffic teams, 98 civil teams, and 2172 personnel.
Minister’s Statement: Fire Under Control
The Minister reported that they were combating 48 fires nationwide, including 34 forest fires and 14 non-forest fires. He emphasized that although there were high-risk fires in places like Edirne, Bursa, Balıkesir, Manisa, Uşak, Kütahya, İzmir Foça, İzmir Bergama, and İzmir Buca, all these fires were brought under control.
He also noted that despite the severity of the flames, there were no reported losses or damage in Buca. He highlighted the importance of considering the wildlife affected by these incidents.
Shortly after Minister Yumaklı’s announcement that the fires were under control, flames were seen rising again in Buca. Teams are continuing to combat the renewed fire both from the air and on the ground.
Evacuations and Precautions
As the fire threatened residential areas during the night, precautionary evacuations were carried out. Thanks to the intense efforts of the firefighting teams, the flames were prevented from reaching residential areas.
Impact on Air Traffic
The fire’s proximity to Adnan Menderes Airport caused disruptions in air traffic due to the smoke. These disruptions have since been resolved, but the airport experienced significant passenger congestion as a result.
Foça Fire Under Control
In addition, a forest fire that broke out in Foça, İzmir, around 3 PM was brought under control by 10:30 PM. Cooling operations will continue throughout the night. Residents like Hilal Yolcu and Asiye Güven reported trying to protect their olive groves and livestock before official help arrived. Their efforts, along with those of neighbors and the fire brigade, helped control the fire, though some property damage was sustained.
