Governor Akbıyık: 'The Fire in Yeşilüzümlü Has Been Brought Under Control'

Muğla Governor Dr. İdris Akbıyık conducted inspections in the area of the forest fire in Fethiye's Yeşilüzümlü Neighborhood and made statements about the ongoing firefighting efforts.

Akbıyık noted that the fire that had been brought under control two days ago in Yeşilüzümlü reignited, but thanks to intensive interventions by teams both from the air and on the ground, the fire was brought under control again.

"Today, 6 separate fires broke out in Muğla"

Governor Akbıyık stated that the risk of forest fires has increased in Muğla recently due to high temperatures, low humidity, and strong winds, and that a total of 6 different fires occurred today in Bodrum, Milas, Dalaman, Kavaklıdere, Yatağan, and Yeşilüzümlü neighborhood of Fethiye.

Akbıyık said, "All 6 fires that broke out in Muğla today have been brought under control. All government institutions acted with a great mobilization together with our citizens."

Brought under control without spreading to residential areas

Remembering that about 5 thousand people live in Yeşilüzümlü Neighborhood, Akbıyık said their biggest concern was the fire reaching residential areas.

Akbıyık stated that the fire was fought with coordination between the General Directorate of Forestry, Muğla Forest Regional Directorate, AFAD, police, gendarmerie, and municipal teams, and noted that 1 plane, 8 helicopters, and many ground vehicles were involved in the firefighting efforts.

"The smallest negligence leads to great disasters"

Calling on citizens to be more careful about forest fires, Akbıyık emphasized especially not to light fires in forest areas during the summer months.

Akbıyık said:
"Please do not light fires in forested areas, do not barbecue, do not throw cigarette butts, do not burn bushes or stubble. The smallest negligence causes great destruction. We must protect our green homeland together."

"We continuously inform our citizens"

Akbıyık stated that public institutions work in coordination to prevent forest fires and that awareness activities targeting citizens are continuously carried out with the Forest Regional Directorate, AFAD, police, gendarmerie, Directorate of National Education, mufti's office, and relevant institutions. He also mentioned that sermons and preaching in mosques include warnings about forest fires, emphasizing that all segments of society need to be sensitive about this issue.

Thanked the fire teams

At the end of his statement, Akbıyık thanked all institutions involved in firefighting efforts, saying that although many fires occurred in different districts of Muğla in the last week, they were brought under control with minimal damage thanks to the coordinated intervention of the teams.

Governor Akbıyık stated, "I thank all our personnel who work selflessly in the field from our forestry organization to AFAD, from the gendarmerie to our police and municipalities. Our greatest consolation is that there have been no casualties."

"The causes of the fires are being investigated thoroughly"

Regarding the causes of the fires, Governor Akbıyık stated that security forces are investigating all aspects of the events thoroughly.

He said that the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry and the Minister of Interior are closely monitoring the process and providing all kinds of support for the field operations, adding:
"Our Ministers of Agriculture and Forestry and Interior are following the process moment by moment and providing all kinds of support. Our gendarmerie and police are investigating the causes of the fires diligently. We have some findings. Some are human-caused, and there are events believed to be energy-related. However, we do not make a definitive evaluation until expert examinations are completed."

Akbıyık emphasized that no tolerance is shown towards negligence causing forest fires and indicated that administrative and judicial proceedings continue against those who throw cigarette butts into forested areas.

Akbıyık said, "We take action against many people who throw cigarette butts on the ground when passing through our forests. Sometimes we share this with the public. We carry out all necessary procedures. The person detained on suspicion of sabotage related to the fire in Dalaman was arrested. Security forces continue their work regarding other incidents."