Six hectares of forest land burned down in Turkey’s Antalya, Muğla

ANTALYA/MUĞLA – Doğan News Agency

Two hectares of forest land were reduced to ashes in the Mediterranean province of Antalya’s touristic Kemer district on Aug. 27 while another four hectares of land burned down on the same day in the Aegean province of Muğla’s Yatağan district.

The fire in Antalya’s Kemer, which started in the Çamyuva neighborhood at around 3:45 p.m., was brought under control in a couple of hours thanks to extensive efforts of fire extinguishing teams via both air and land. 

Many firefighters, three helicopters, one amphibious plane and 12 water sprinklers from the Antalya forestry department were utilized in the extinguishing efforts. The fire spread over a large area in a short period of time due to strong winds in the area. Even locals were seen helping the fire extinguishing teams. The cause of the fire is yet to be determined.

In the Yava village of Muğla’s Yatağan district, meanwhile, four hectares of forest land were reduced to ashes in a fire that started from a small spark, which fell while an advertising sign board near the road was being heat welded. Three people have been reported to be detained regarding the incident.

The spark, which fell to a nearby farm, spread to a wide extent in a short period of time, again due to strong winds in the area. Two fire extinguishing vehicles intervened in the first stage of the fire. Later on, eight water sprinklers, one helicopter and 50 workers participated in the fire extinguishing efforts. After three hours, the fire was eventually brought under control. 

Additionally, a fire that broke out in a moving car in the Spill Mountain National Park located in the Aegean province of Manisa at around 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 27, quickly spread to a nearby forest area, burning two decares (0.2 hectares) of forest land.

Two people who were in the moving car when the fire broke out, stopped the vehicle and got out. The fire then jumped to the car’s fuel tank.

The regional directorate of forestry of the Aegean province İzmir quickly intervened in the fire extinguishing efforts, and were able to bring the fire under control in only one hour, thereby not leaving much damage. An investigation has been launched into the incident.