90 hectares of forest reduced to ash in Turkey’s Bodrum

BODRUM

A fire that destroyed 90 hectares of forest land was taken under control after fire crews battled the blaze for 11 hours on Oct. 16 in the Aegean province of Muğla.

The fire ignited in Bodrum’s Turgutreis neighborhood and spread shortly due to the effect of strong winds. The crews put forth strong efforts to extinguish the fire due to the rugged terrain but finally managed to control the flames.

Fire helicopters intervened in the fire first, as work to extinguish the fire had to be halted due to nightfall after two hours.

The firefighters then continued from land as the fire came within 50 meters of holiday resorts.

As security measures, Turkish Search and Rescue Association (AKUT) teams, which were dispatched to the scene, evacuated locals who were staying in the vacation resorts.

Some locals provided support to extinguish the fire until it was taken under control at 3:15 a.m. on Oct. 16.

Officials stated there were no casualties and injuries in the fire.

On Oct. 7, a fire that broke out for unknown reasons destroyed 20 hectares of maquis shrubland in Bodrum, before it was taken under control only meters away from houses.

The residential part of the town, Yalıkavak, was spared from the fire as 20 firefighters were able to keep the wind-blown flames under control with sprinklers belonging to the Muğla Regional Forestry Directorate.