Forest fires affecting various parts of Türkiye continue to threaten residential areas. Crews are responding to the fires in Karabük, Bursa, Antalya, and Kahramanmaraş from both air and land. As the forest fire in the Safranbolu district of Karabük enters its fourth day, the number of evacuated settlements is rapidly increasing. Aircraft were deployed to combat the fire between the Gürsu and Kestel districts of Bursa. The fire in the Serik district of Antalya was brought under control in four hours, while the fire in the Sivaslı district of Uşak grew due to the wind. Many houses were evacuated due to the fire that broke out in the Onikişubat district of Kahramanmaraş, and three people were treated for smoke inhalation.
Here is the latest situation on forest fires...
16:47
"We continue our fight against fires without interruption"
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, making a statement regarding the fire in Karabük, said:
We are continuing our uninterrupted fight against the fires in Karabük for our forests, our lives, and our homeland. We are fighting tirelessly with 19 aircraft, including 1,386 heroic personnel, 389 vehicles, 3 aircraft, and 16 helicopters. 1,839 citizens were evacuated to safe areas from the forest fires that broke out in Karabük. We will continue to work tirelessly against forest fires for every tree, for every forest, and for every life. May God protect our country, humanity, and all living things from all disasters.
We continue our fight against the fires in Karabük for our forests, our lives, and our homeland.
— Ali Yerlikaya (@AliYerlikaya) July 27, 2025
🔻1,386 heroic personnel 🔻389 vehicles
🔻We are fighting tirelessly with a total of 19 aircraft, consisting of 3 planes and 16 helicopters.
The fire in Karabük… pic.twitter.com/8M2mMfs60x
16:31
STATEMENT FROM MINISTER YERLİKAYA
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya made the following statement regarding the fire in Bursa:
We are fighting the forest fires in Bursa with 1,777 heroic personnel, 688 vehicles, 6 aircraft, and 4 helicopters, all working tirelessly. Due to the fire, we evacuated 1,765 citizens to safe locations. We continue our fight against the forest fires in Bursa, relentlessly, for every branch of a tree and every inch of our homeland. May God protect our country, humanity, and all living things from all disasters.
We are fighting the forest fires in Bursa:
— Ali Yerlikaya (@AliYerlikaya) July 27, 2025
🔻1,777 heroic personnel
🔻688 vehicles 🔻We are fighting tirelessly with a total of 10 aircraft, including 6 planes and 4 helicopters.
🔻We evacuated 1,765 citizens to safe places due to the fire.
A branch of a tree, every inch of our homeland… pic.twitter.com/4gbLpI9v5K
YUMAKLI: NO PROBLEM LEFT IN 5 FIRES IN 4 PROVINCES
Minister Yumaklı's statements are as follows:
Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı said,"We fought 84 fires across the country, 36 of which were in forest areas and 48 in non-forest areas."
Yumaklı, in a statement made at the Bursa Regional Directorate of Forestry Fire Operations Center with Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, assessed the latest situation regarding forest fires.
Noting that the fires in Mersin Silifke and Antalya Serik, which were largely brought under control last night and whose cooling efforts are ongoing, have been completely brought under control, Yumaklı said that the fire in Uşak Sivaslı has also been largely brought under control.
Yumaklı stated that precautionary cooling operations are continuing in the Antalya Gazipaşa fire, which has been largely brought under control, and that even after the fires are extinguished, they can flare up again due to extreme heat and even the slightest wind.
Yumaklı explained that cooling efforts are ongoing in all areas where fires have been extinguished to date, emphasizing that these efforts can sometimes take days, or even weeks depending on the situation and terrain conditions.
Referring to the fire that broke out yesterday in the rural Yakuplar neighborhood of Bursa's Orhaneli district, Yumaklı said,"Our colleagues made a very intensive intervention. They made an incredible effort to stop the fire. Thankfully, it's largely under control. So, thankfully, there are no problems left in the five fires in our four provinces."
Minister Yumaklı stated that the Karabük-Safranbolu fire continues due to terrain conditions, fractures, canyons, deep valleys and steep cliffs.
"Winds are expected to reach 40 kilometers in the coming hours."
Yumaklı stated that they carried out a 1.5-hour coordination in the area affected by the fire that broke out in the forest between Bursa’s Gürsu and Kestel districts, and continued as follows:
The fire in Kestel, Bursa, is still ongoing, but I can say it's getting better. Smoke is visible, and our teams are focused on a few different areas. Hopefully, barring any extraordinary weather conditions—that is, adverse winds—our teams will be able to give us better news towards evening, but as of now, I can say we're in good shape. Kahramanmaraş, February 12th, is also a rocky, rocky, and difficult-to-reach area, unfortunately. Our teams continued fighting here throughout the night and will continue to do so today.
Yumaklı, recalling that the fire in Kestel started at 5:40 PM yesterday, said,"Both our air and ground vehicles responded until dark. Airborne interventions resumed at first light. Winds are expected to reach 40 kilometers per hour in the coming hours. Our teams have taken precautions against this situation. Currently, there are six aircraft and four helicopters in the air, two of which are heavy-duty. They are continuing to work on our areas of focus. There are 694 ground vehicles here, ranging from water trucks to water tankers, and 1,961 personnel are continuing to fight this fire in the field."
Karabük Safranbolu fire
Yumaklı, who informed that the firefighting efforts in Karabük Safranbolu continued throughout the night, said:
Unfortunately, because the fog and smoke have completely covered the fire area, we are unable to conduct an air response until a certain time. Our colleagues have dispatched aircraft to areas where the weather has cleared or where pilots can locally approach. Our colleagues are continuing the ground response there as well. We will continue the response there throughout the day with three aircraft, 16 helicopters, 389 water trucks and other vehicles, and 1,386 personnel. The response vehicles in Bursa Kestel and Karabük Safranbolu are different. You can't use every vehicle in every geographical condition. You dispatch them to the geographical conditions that are suitable for which air and ground vehicles are suitable.
Yumaklı emphasized that AFAD had taken 928 houses and 1,839 citizens in 57 neighborhoods in Karabük Safranbolu to safe areas.
Yumaklı, explaining that the fire, which started in a forest area in Kahramanmaraş yesterday, February 12, spread to the stony and rocky area, said,"The energy here has been reduced throughout the night, but we are taking precautions and continuing to intervene here as if it had just started."
"We are going through risky days"
Yumaklı reminded that Minister Uraloğlu, who was in Bursa for a program, took a stand at the fire and followed it very closely, and thanked all ministries that contributed, all public institutions and organizations, non-governmental organizations, and citizens who made an effort.
Minister Yumaklı continued his speech as follows:
We fought 84 fires across the country, 36 of which were in forest areas and 48 in non-forest areas. We are going through risky days, and it doesn't look like they'll stop in just two or three days. To emphasize this, let us reiterate that we are on high alert until October 2025, and that not only we, but all our citizens, must be on high alert.
Yumaklı, emphasizing the importance of preventing fires, warned against lighting fires in picnic areas and recreation areas, except in closed areas, and warned anyone who detects anything related to fire to call 112.
Yumaklı said,"The coastal areas that pose the greatest risk, especially the southern Marmara region, the northern Aegean region, the western Black Sea region, and even the interior of the Aegean region, appear to be at risk today. We have deployed all our resources and positions in these areas."
Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Uraloğlu also noted:
"With all our colleagues, the governor, our members of parliament, all our administrators here, and our mayors, we continued our work until the morning, under your coordination. Hopefully, with these efforts, we will be able to extinguish the fire here together. May God protect us from the worst. Our municipalities, public institutions, and citizens, especially the forestry administration, are out in the field with their two-ton tractors. We thank them."
Firefighter who had a heart attack while fighting a fire could not be saved
Firefighter Ramazan Şaşkın (38), who had a heart attack while responding to a forest fire in the Orhaneli district of Bursa, could not be saved in the hospital to which he was taken.
The fire, which broke out around 4:00 PM yesterday in the Meyran area on the Harmancık road in the Orhaneli district, was largely brought under control 10 hours later, and the flames were contained. Firefighter Ramazan Şaşkın, who was on duty in the area where extinguishing and cooling efforts were ongoing, suffered a heart attack yesterday during the intervention. After receiving initial treatment from paramedics, Şaşkın was taken to Çekirge State Hospital and then transferred to Yüksek İhtisas Training and Research Hospital. Despite doctors' best efforts, Ramazan Şaşkın could not be saved.
It was learned that Ramazan Şaşkın had surgery a week ago for an orthopedic problem in his leg and that he had a blood clot in his lung while responding to the fire.
10:08
Bursa Governorship: 3 helicopters and 3 planes are providing air support
Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, who monitored the firefighting efforts at the Fire Operations Center with Bursa Governor Erol Ayyıldız, received information about the work being carried out in the region and the course of the fire from Regional Forestry Director Erdal Şahan.
In a statement made by the Bursa Governorship, it was stated that three helicopters and three planes provided air support for the firefighting efforts, and the following statements were made:
Fire response efforts are being carried out under the coordination of AFAD and in collaboration with all relevant institutions. Along with 1,777 personnel and 688 ground vehicles working in the field, three helicopters and three firefighting aircraft registered with the General Directorate of Forestry are providing air support. Thanks to the determined, coordinated, and dedicated response of our teams, the rate and energy of the fire's spread have been largely brought under control. Firefighting efforts continue uninterrupted under the coordination of AFAD and with the support of our public institutions, local governments, and citizens.
03:05
STATEMENT FROM BURSA GOVERNOR'S OFFICE
In a statement released by the Governor's Office, it was stated,"As a result of the evacuation efforts carried out within the scope of the ongoing forest fires in the rural neighborhoods of our Gürsu district, 170 households and 708 citizens in Karahıdır, 220 households and 600 citizens in İğdir, 90 households and 457 citizens in Avdancık. A total of 480 households and 1,765 citizens were safely evacuated. Fire extinguishing efforts are continuing non-stop with 1,163 personnel and 496 vehicles."
SHELTER AREA CREATED FOR EVACUATED CITIZENS
A shelter area has been set up in Vakıf Bera Park in the central Yıldırım district for residents of the Karahıdır and İğdir neighborhoods evacuated following a forest fire in Bursa's Gürsu district. Bursa Metropolitan Municipality and Yıldırım Municipality have prepared a mobile hospital for the residents, along with BURFAŞ teams, to provide tents and distribute water and food. Residents of the evacuated neighborhoods are expected to be brought there.
FIRE FIGHTING CONTINUES
3 HOUSES GO INTO FLAMES
Efforts to bring the flames under control are underway with 300 personnel, seven first-response vehicles, 14 water trucks, eight water tanks, and 15 pieces of machinery. Two helicopters also responded to the blaze before dark. The Kahramanmaraş Metropolitan Municipality Fire Department is also supporting the firefighting efforts with six vehicles, while Kahramanmaraş Governor Mükerrem Ünlüer and Metropolitan Mayor Fırat Görgel also visited the area to conduct inspections.
5 FOREST WORKERS HOSPITALIZED
A 400-hectare area was damaged in the Onikişubat district. 130 people were evacuated by AFAD and the Gendarmerie. Five of the six Regional Forestry Directorates involved in responding to the fire were hospitalized for smoke inhalation.
STATEMENT FROM AFAD
The Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) provided information about the forest fires that occurred in many parts of the country, especially the forest fires that broke out in 7 provinces. In its post, AFAD stated, “The efforts to control, extinguish, and cool the forest fires that occurred in many different settlements of our country, especially in the provinces of Karabük, Bursa, Antalya, Mersin, Ankara, Kahramanmaraş, and Bursa, are being carried out intensively and uninterruptedly by all our relevant institutions and organizations, especially our Forestry Organization, from the air and the ground within the scope of the Turkey Disaster Response Plan (TAMP). Within the scope of combating the forest fires in question; 5,400 personnel, 119 aircraft, and 1,537 ground vehicles are working. Our AFAD Presidency is closely monitoring the process with all its relevant units and teams, and is carrying out the necessary work and procedures in coordination with the General Directorate of Forestry within the scope of the Turkey Disaster Response Plan (TAMP) and the National Forest Fires Response Plan; and is ensuring the coordination of the relevant institutions and organizations. Between July 20-26; ▪️ In order to prevent possible risks; our citizens were taken to safe areas in 53 settlements in the fires that occurred in 10 provinces. Following the extinguishing of the fires, Our citizens are returning to their places of residence. ▪️ A total of 8,269 small and large cattle have been taken to safe zones in the provinces of Afyonkarahisar, Bilecik, Eskişehir, Antalya, Uşak, Sakarya and Karabük. ▪️ Damage assessment was carried out for 56 residences, 4 barns, 9 haylofts and 10 warehouses in 7 provinces (Karabük, Sakarya, Bilecik, Antalya, Mersin, Uşak and Kahramanmaraş). Necessary support is being provided to our citizens for the damage and losses detected. AFAD President Governor Ali Hamza Pehlivan, along with Ankara Governor Vasip Şahin, arrived at the scene of the forest fire that broke out in the Eymir Lake area of the Çankaya district of Ankara province on site and to support coordination. As a result of the intensive work carried out by the teams on duty from air and land, the fire was taken under control. We wish success to the heroes of the forest who are fighting to protect our green homeland and all our institutions that provided support and extend our congratulations to our citizens affected by the fire."Once again, we offer our wishes for a speedy recovery."
KESTEL MAYOR SPOKE
Kestel Mayor Ferhat Erol said, “We were forced to evacuate our Karahıdır and İğdir neighborhoods. We evacuated our residents. We are working diligently to extinguish the fire. We are having difficulty responding due to the increasing wind. Evacuations will continue in at-risk neighborhoods. The fire is being fought with caution after dark. Currently, Environment and Urbanization Department, AFAD, and municipality personnel are continuing the firefighting efforts.”
"WORKS CONTINUE AT FAST"
Ferhat Erol stated that work in the area is continuing at full speed, saying,"We have dispatched citizens from surrounding municipalities to accommodate approximately 2,500 of our citizens. Our firefighting efforts in the area have been continuing rapidly for the last hour. Our only joy is that there are no casualties or injuries."
Houses are being evacuated in Bursa
As firefighting efforts continue in the Orhaneli district, AFAD teams are evacuating 170 households in the Karahıdır neighborhood as the flames approach residential areas. As the fire began in Kestel and spread to the Gürsu district, AFAD teams are evacuating the surrounding area as a precaution. The Bursa Metropolitan Municipality announced that municipal buses are ready to assist residents and that the Vakıf Bera Sports facilities have been adapted to accommodate those affected by the fire.
THE HIGHWAY WAS CLOSED, AND THE İĞDİR NEIGHBORHOOD WAS EVACUATED
Explosions were reportedly heard due to the fire, and the Bursa-Ankara Highway has been closed. Drivers on the road are being sent back. Meanwhile, the İğdir neighborhood of Kestel is also being evacuated.
MINISTER URALOĞLU INSPECTED THE REGION
Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, who is making a series of visits to Bursa, visited the area following the forest fires that broke out on the border between the Orhaneli and Kestel-Gürsu districts and conducted inspections. Accompanying him were Bursa Governor Erol Ayyıldız, AK Party Bursa Provincial Chairman Davut Gürkan, and Gürsu Mayor Mustafa Işık.
BURSA-ANKARA HIGHWAY CLOSED TO TRAFFIC DUE TO FIRE
The Bursa-Ankara highway has been closed to traffic in the Ankara direction due to a forest fire that broke out between the Kestel and Gürsu districts of Bursa. Drivers have been directed to alternative routes, and the flames are rapidly approaching residential areas.
A forest fire that broke out between the Kestel and Gürsu districts of Bursa has negatively impacted traffic in the area. As the fire spread rapidly, authorities temporarily closed the Bursa-Ankara highway in the Ankara direction for safety reasons.
Police are informing drivers and directing them to alternative routes. While the cause of the fire has not yet been determined, flames rising from the forest have approached residential areas. Crews and residents are continuing to respond to the fire.
KARABÜK-ANKARA ROAD CLOSED TO TRAFFIC
The Karabük-Eskipazar-Ankara Highway, between km 0 and 35 (Karabük-Eskipazar), has been temporarily closed to traffic due to a forest fire. Access is via Devrek or Kastamonu.
STATEMENT FROM MINISTER YUMAKLI
Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı assessed the latest situation regarding forest fires at the Fire Management Center of the General Directorate of Forestry.
Recalling that he had made a statement that today was risky in terms of forest fires, Yumaklı reported that a fire broke out in the METU forest area around Ankara's Eymir Lake at 12:10 p.m. following that statement.
Yumaklı stated that they responded to the fire quickly from both air and land, saying,"The necessary cooling operations have largely been completed. As of 5:00 p.m., this fire was brought under control. Unfortunately, just five minutes after this fire in Ankara, a new fire broke out in Uşak Sivaslı, approximately two kilometers from the area we had previously brought under control and where cooling efforts were underway."
Yumaklı pointed out that the burned area was quickly intervened in within a few minutes as cooling efforts were continuing in that area, and said that intervention in the area is continuing.
Yumaklı stated that the fire in Uşak has largely lost its energy, but that work will continue throughout the night due to the ongoing risk, and continued:
Unfortunately, at 2:36 p.m., news of a new fire came from Serik, Antalya. The fire, which started in a non-forest area, spread into the forest. Our teams fought this fire very hard, but thankfully, it was largely under control by 8:00 p.m. Our cooling efforts are currently underway. At 3:30 p.m., another fire was reported in Kahramanmaraş, another corner of the country. Our teams began fighting the fire, which started in a forested area in our Onikişubat district, by air and ground. Our teams are still battling this fire.
"INTERVENTION TO FIRES IN BURSA CONTINUES"
Yumaklı, reminding that he stated that the highest-risk regions today are Southern Marmara and the Northern Aegean, said,"Unfortunately, two fires started right at this point in Bursa. Our teams began responding to two separate fires, one in Harmancık at 4:06 PM and the other in Kestel at 5:40 PM, and this response is currently ongoing. Because these two fires are located on the roadside and close to residential areas, there may be a lot of interest in them. However, our teams will continue to respond to this fire throughout the night, as they have done with the others."
Yumaklı said that the Antalya Gazipaşa and Mersin Silifke fires have been largely brought under control and cooling efforts are continuing.
Drawing attention to the geographical difficulties related to the fire in Karabük Safranbolu, Yumaklı stated that work there will be more intensive for a while.
Yumaklı pointed out the potential for growth in these fires and made the following assessment:
"In addition to these, there were many fires that started during the day and were extinguished with rapid intervention. On a day we described as 'very risky,' we fought 76 fires, 28 of which were in forests and 48 in rural areas. To summarize, the Ankara Eymir fire is completely under control, the Antalya Gazipaşa, Mersin Silifke, and Antalya Serik fires are largely under control. Thus, there are no problems left in four fires in three of our provinces. The ongoing fires that will continue all night, and for which I hope we will have good news, the second fire in Karabük Safranbolu, Uşak Sivaslı, Kahramanmaraş Onikişubat, Bursa Harmancık, and Bursa Kestel are still ongoing."
Karabuk Fire Response Continues
Efforts are underway to extinguish the fire that broke out in a forest area in the Safranbolu district of Karabük on its fourth day.
Teams are working to extinguish the fire, which broke out at 14:42 on Wednesday in the forested area in the Cemetery area of Çavuşlar village in the Safranbolu district.
In the densely smoke-covered area, extinguishing efforts are being carried out by helicopter during the day and continue from land throughout the night.
Efforts to extinguish the fire continue in the area, where flames and smoke increase from time to time.
Two planes and 23 helicopters are involved in the firefighting efforts supported by the Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Health, General Directorate of Security, General Directorate of Forestry, AFAD, Red Crescent, gendarmerie, municipalities, DSI, special provincial administrations, Kardemir and non-governmental organizations.
A fire management vehicle was also deployed to the area.
Meanwhile, the villages of Cemal Ovası and one neighborhood in Cumayanı village, both in the central district, were evacuated. The number of villages evacuated due to the fire has risen to 18 and the number of neighborhoods to 50.
Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı announced that the forest fire that broke out in the Ovacık district on Wednesday was brought under control.
Forest fires are growing in Bursa
A fire that began in a forested area between the Kestel and Gürsu districts of Bursa continues to intensify. Two firefighting helicopters are battling the blaze from the air, numerous water trucks and fire trucks are fighting the blaze on the ground, and numerous farmers are supporting the firefighting efforts with their tractors.
Gürsu Mayor Mustafa Işık, who participated in the firefighting efforts in the area where red pine forests were burned, stated that two-way firefighting efforts were being carried out in both the Ağlaşan neighborhoods of Kestel and Dışkaya neighborhoods of Gürsu. He said,"While our state helicopters and fire department and forestry teams are responding to the fire, which started in Ağlaşan and reached Dışkaya, God bless our farmers for their support. I wish a great recovery to Bursa, Kestel, and Gürsu districts."
One forest fire continues in Antalya; three are under control
The forest fire, which broke out around 2:00 p.m. in the Kızılbük area between the Akbaş and Karataş neighborhoods of Antalya's Serik district, was brought under control in four hours. Two planes and two helicopters responded to the blaze from the air, while water trucks and firefighters responded from the ground. Residents also used tractors and sprayers to combat the fire. Three houses, four barns, and some agricultural land were reduced to ashes in the blaze. A portion of the neighborhood mosque was also damaged by the flames. 50 decares of forest were damaged in the blaze.
ANIMALS WERE REMOVED FROM THE FLAMES
As the fire approached the neighborhood center, residents moved their livestock, both small and large, from the barns to the outskirts. Some animals, suffering from the smoke and heat, received injections from veterinarians. Meanwhile, a cow rescued from the fire was seen refusing to leave its calf. Meanwhile, as the fire grew, gendarmerie teams blocked off the neighborhood. Residents occasionally carried water and ayran (yogurt drink) to the struggling crews.
HIS HOUSE BURNED
Veli Kozan, who noted that they saved their animals at the last minute while their house was burning, said,"I was sleeping at home. I was working late at night and had just come home from work. My mother looked outside when the power went out. We saw the smoke. We rushed out of the house. We had animals there, so we saved them. Then the house burned down."
‘WE SAID TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS’
Ahmet Parlak, who stated that they notified the villagers when they saw the smoke, said,"We called the homeowner. We said, 'Your house is about to burn, take precautions.' An hour later, his house burned down. We notified the villagers as soon as we saw the smoke. It's under control now."
20 HOUSES EVACUATED IN KAHRAMANMARAS
Teams continue to fight the forest fire in Kahramanmaraş from air and land.
The fire broke out in the Çamlıbel and Çakırdere areas of the Onikişubat district. Numerous firefighting and firefighting teams from the Regional Directorate of Forestry, as well as volunteers, responded to the blaze, whose cause remains unknown. Air combat was also underway, and 20 homes in the area were evacuated as a precaution. Three people were also reported to have suffered smoke inhalation.
Crews continue their efforts to extinguish the fire.
Two more neighborhoods and one village were evacuated in UŞAK.
The fire, which started in an oak grove in the Sivaslı district of Uşak, is being fought from air and land.
A fire broke out in an oak grove and forest area near Ketenlik village for an as yet unknown reason.
Five helicopters, 31 water trucks, numerous construction machines and 412 personnel from the Denizli Regional Directorate of Forestry, who were dispatched to the region upon notice, are continuing the fire extinguishing efforts.
While air and ground firefighting efforts continue, the village of Ketenlik was evacuated as a precaution. It was reported that some houses in the Gerdanlar neighborhood were damaged by the fire.
Uşak Governor Naci Aktaş received information from the teams in the fire zone.
2 MORE NEIGHBORHOODS AND 1 VILLAGE WERE EVACUATED
Due to the fire spreading over a wide area due to strong winds, the Horzumlar and Tekeli neighborhoods of Ketenlik village and the village of Erice were also evacuated.
Evacuation operations in the region by Provincial Gendarmerie Command and AFAD teams continue.
On the other hand, it was learned that the Provincial Directorate of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change has started damage assessment work.
