Forest Chief Ahmet Yüksel and two of his colleagues were injured when the pickup truck they were in collided with a car while heading to respond to a fire near the village of Büyükanafarta in Eceabat Forest Management Directorate. Yüksel and the two forestry workers were taken to Eceabat State Hospital after the accident.
After receiving initial treatment at Eceabat State Hospital, the injured individuals were transferred to Mehmet Akif Ersoy Çanakkale Hospital. Once their treatment was completed, they returned to the field to continue their work. Despite warnings from Agriculture and Forestry Minister İbrahim Yumaklı and other superiors to rest and recuperate, Ahmet Yüksel and his two colleagues returned to the fire zone to resume their efforts.
Ahmet Yüksel, the Forest Chief involved in the accident, shared details of the incident and its aftermath. Yüksel stated that they immediately set out to respond to the fire upon receiving a report of the dangerous area on the morning of August 15. However, they were involved in a traffic accident near Bigalı village while en route to the fire. Yüksel sustained injuries and was taken to Eceabat State Hospital and later transferred to Mehmet Akif Ersoy Çanakkale Hospital. Despite doctors’ requests for him to rest, Yüksel insisted on being discharged as he felt responsible for the fire zone under his jurisdiction.
Upon arriving at the fire zone around 17:00, Yüksel mentioned meeting with Agriculture and Forestry Minister İbrahim Yumaklı and Forest Regional Director Enver Demirci. Despite their insistence for him to rest, Yüksel chose to stay and fight the fire, driven by the spirit of Çanakkale. He worked alongside his team for two days, fighting tirelessly to bring the fire under control. Yüksel emphasized the teamwork and bravery displayed by all his colleagues throughout the challenging situation.
Yüksel highlighted that everyone in the team displayed courage and determination in their efforts to control the fire. He expressed his desire to support his colleagues on the ground and at the forefront of the firefighting operations. The team worked collectively to successfully contain the fire, with ongoing efforts focusing on cooling down the affected areas. Yüksel emphasized the importance of teamwork and dedication in effectively managing and overcoming such crises.
