Four people cause a forest fire in Izmir... with the participation of dozens of aircraft in extinguishing it.
Turkish police have arrested four individuals after being accused of causing a large forest fire in the "Foca" area of Izmir province, western Turkey, while they were constructing an iron fence for a private garden using welding tools.
Preliminary investigations revealed that sparks from the welding ignited the nearby forest, prompting an urgent response from firefighting teams and water-carrying aircraft. Izmir's Forestry Directorate shared photos showing the location of the small garden and the iron fence being built.
Four planes, nine helicopters, 35 water-carrying vehicles, and 5 bulldozers belonging to Izmir's Forestry Directorate, along with 4 military helicopters, were involved in extinguishing the fire due to its wide spread and the area's characteristics, marked by dense trees and high temperatures, especially at noon.
The fire led to the temporary closure of a main road and several side roads, which were reopened after the fire was successfully extinguished and the area cooled down.
Mayor of Izmir, Tugay, urged residents to be cautious and not underestimate the danger of fires, especially with strong winds and high temperatures, which accelerate the spread of fires.
As a precautionary measure, Turkish authorities have imposed a ban on citizens entering many forest areas at the start of summer to prevent fires due to negligence or irresponsible practices.
