Turkish authorities announced that new fires broke out and were partially controlled in Izmir on Saturday evening, the third largest city in Turkey by population, located on the country's western coast. Izmir Mayor Cemil Tugay stated that forest fires erupted in areas including Menderes, Bayındır, and Çeşme, adding that firefighters had controlled the flames in Çeşme. Speaking about Izmir and three other cities affected by the fires in northern and western Turkey, Agriculture and Forestry Minister İbrahim Yumaklı said, "Our friends have made a lot of effort in fighting the fires. We can say that these flames have lost their momentum."
Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced that seven individuals suspected of being linked to the outbreak of forest fires had been arrested in Izmir province. Azerbaijan sent a water-dropping plane to Turkey to assist its ally, as announced by the Turkish presidency. On Saturday morning, gray smoke clouds covered the sky over the Karsiyaka area in Izmir where the fire started, and the smell of smoke spread throughout the city, as reported by a witness who contacted the Agence France-Presse and requested anonymity.
Numerous buildings and vehicles were burned in the industrial area of Ornekkoy, in the northern suburb of Izmir, according to observations from Agence France-Presse. Gray smoke continued to rise from behind the industrial zone where firefighters were still attempting to control the flames. Hanife Arbil, 48, who was collecting plastic and paper waste for a living, told AFP, "The fires have been ongoing for three days. We don’t know what to do. Our workplace is in the heart of the fire. We have lost our source of income." A firefighter from Izmir named Ergin Erol said, "Everyone is working hard. I am currently in the sixth hour of service (...) we can say the flames are partially under control."
Between Ornekkoy and Sancakli, another area affected by the fire, the once lush pine-covered peaks have turned to ashes. A taxi driver named Ayhan said, "This used to be a beautiful road smelling of pine. It makes me want to cry." Three helicopters that were unable to fly on Friday night due to strong winds worked to drop water on the peaks of Sancakli.
Sixteen buildings have been damaged due to the fires, impacting 78 people, 29 of whom were hospitalized, according to the Turkish Ministry of Health. The interior minister reported that 900 residents from the five affected areas were evacuated during the night. No severe injuries among the populace were reported, but several wild animals, cats, and dogs died.
Minister İbrahim Yumaklı pointed out that "the total affected area is approximately 1,600 hectares." He added that intervention at the point of fire outbreak was difficult due to "steep valleys." The forest fire that began on Thursday night quickly spread to residential areas due to winds reaching speeds of 50 km/h during the day.
As part of the reinforcements, firefighters were sent from various Turkish cities, and the military and police were also mobilized. The Izmir fire is the largest fire in Turkey in the summer of 2024 and threatens urban areas. Five other forest and brush fires continue in Turkish cities, including Bolu in the northwest and Aydın in the west. Fifteen people died in June due to a fire that broke out in Mardin in southeast Turkey.
