Turkey’s Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, İbrahim Yumaklı, has made important statements regarding the recent forest fires in the country. He revealed that there have been a total of 42 forest fires today, with 22 occurring within forests and 20 outside of forest areas. Five of these fires are classified as being in the highest risk group, located in Burdur, Çanakkale, Sakarya, Manisa, and Uşak.
As of now, there are ongoing fires in Eceebat and Uşak. The fire in Eceebat was first detected at 16:05, with initial intervention starting at 16:11. Currently, 94 fire trucks and 540 personnel are working to combat the fire, with precautionary evacuations being carried out in the village of Büyükanafartalar. Initial estimates suggest that around 300 hectares of land have been affected by the fire.
In Uşak, the fire started at 18:30, with intervention beginning just 8 minutes later. One helicopter, 33 ground vehicles, and 161 personnel are actively involved in fighting the fire. Minister Yumaklı emphasizes the importance of the country’s capabilities and capacity in firefighting efforts, expressing gratitude for the lack of any issues in this regard. However, prevention remains a top priority to avoid the devastating consequences of forest fires.
Minister Yumaklı also draws attention to the impacts of climate change, stressing the need for greater care and attention in the face of the significant effects being experienced, especially in the Mediterranean region. He highlights the importance of taking extra precautions and measures due to the vulnerability of Turkey to these climate change impacts.
It is observed that many of the fires are caused by negligence, whether intentional or unintentional. Minister Yumaklı reminds all citizens of the serious consequences of causing forest fires. He extends his best wishes to Eceebat in Çanakkale, where one of the ongoing fires is being fought, and urges everyone to be mindful and cautious to prevent such disasters in the future.
