Forest fire in Antalya forces evacuations as one home burns down

A forest fire in Antalya’s Aksu district spread rapidly under the effect of wind, forcing the evacuation of residents from numerous homes and leaving one house completely destroyed.

The fire began at a single point in Karaöz neighbourhood at around 6 p.m. Its cause had not yet been determined. After residents reported smoke rising from the area, large numbers of emergency teams were sent to the scene. Crews launched a coordinated response from the ground and air, using 45 water tenders, two construction machines, 275 personnel and firefighting workers, supported by nine helicopters and three aircraft.

As the flames approached residential areas, residents were evacuated from several homes. The road at the Antalya entrance to Karaöz was closed after fire surrounded the route. Local people also joined the effort. Some residents used tractors to try to stop the flames, while others built barriers around their buildings to keep the fire away from their homes.

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They told me there was a fire near the house. It is burning on both the right and left sides. It has reached right next to my house. There is nothing left of the trees.

Muhammet Özdemir, whose house was nearly reached by the fire, said: “They told me there was a fire near the house. It is burning on both the right and left sides. It has reached right next to my house. There is nothing left of the trees.”

Ahmet Karakış, the headman of Karaöz, said residents evacuated many homes immediately after the fire began. “So far, one house has burned down completely. Thank God, there has been no loss of life. We are doing everything we can to put out the fire,” he said. The Regional Forestry Directorate said teams were also attacking spot fires created when burning materials were scattered by the fire’s energy.

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So far, one house has burned down completely. Thank God, there has been no loss of life. We are doing everything we can to put out the fire.