IZMIR: A significant wildfire near Turkey’s İzmir Adnan Menderes Airport has forced the airport to temporarily shut down, with flights being diverted to nearby cities. The blaze has severely impacted the Aegean İzmir region, prompting extensive firefighting efforts.
Airport Closure and Flight Diversions
Budget carrier Pegasus announced on July 18 that the İzmir Adnan Menderes Airport was closed temporarily, with inbound flights redirected to Bodrum Airport. The carrier made the announcement via social media, indicating that the wildfire’s proximity to the airport necessitated the closures and diversions.
Firefighting Efforts
Turkish authorities have deployed a substantial number of resources to combat the fire, including 7 planes, 16 helicopters, and 35 fire trucks. The local governor’s office reported that various teams are working in the affected areas to contain the blaze.
Community Involvement and Evacuations
As the flames approached within 100 meters of homes in the Gaziemir district, residents joined firefighting efforts despite the heavy smoke. Police and gendarmerie teams evacuated residents from threatened homes, as well as beehives and barns in the area.
Widespread Impact of Fires in Izmir
Another fire broke out in the forested area of İzmir’s Foça district, affecting the Gendarmerie Commando Anti-Terrorist Operations School Command campus. This fire, which started at noon, was only brought under control by the evening. Şahin Dönertaş, the Forestry Management Manager, tragically died while combating a fire near İzmir’s Bergama district.
Additional Fires and Preventative Measures
Firefighting teams are also tackling a blaze in the Altıeylül district of Balıkesir province that began on July 18. The fire started from a spark during hay baling and spread to the forest. To reduce the risk of further fires, the Balıkesir Governor’s Office has banned grain harvesting and baling operations with combine harvesters between July 19-20.
Two of three individuals detained in connection with the fire have been released, while one suspect remains in detention.
Human-Induced Fires and Climatic Conditions
Turkey is experiencing an increase in wildfires due to scorching heat and low precipitation. Many of these fires are human-induced, especially during the harvesting season.
