PodcastForest fire erupts on Istanbul's Heybeliada
A forest fire broke out on one of Istanbul's Princes' Islands, Heybeliada, on July 12. An investigation was launched into the fire, which was extinguished with the help of the residents. "We extinguished this fire with minimum damage of around five hectares [12.3 acres]," Agriculture and Forestry Minister Bekir Pakdemirli said.
Duvar English - Anadolu Agency
A forest fire broke out on one of Istanbul's Princes' Islands, Heybeliada, on July 12.
Following inspections at the site of the fire, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Bekir Pakdemirli said an investigation into the incident was launched.
"We extinguished this fire with minimum damage of around five hectares [12.3 acres]," he said.
"The fire was brought under control at 7:45 p.m.," said Istanbul Governor Ali Yerlikaya.
Aşıklar Yolu'nun ortak kısmındaki ormanlık alanın yangın sonrası hali de bu. Geniş bir alan yanmış durumda, simsiyah.#Heybeliada pic.twitter.com/99Av5NRuLG
— Fatih Polat (@fpolat69) July 12, 2020
Forest teams first responded at 5:36 p.m. to the fire, which broke out at 5:33 p.m., noted Yerlikaya.
At least six helicopters, two planes and 21 water trucks were deployed to battle the fire, including 17 from neighboring provinces.
Residents also aided fire extinguishing efforts.
Flames erupted at two different points in forested areas on Heybeliada, according to the provincial governor's office.
"To extinguish the fire, three helicopters and two fire extinguishers were sent from adjacent provinces by the Agriculture and Forestry Minister," it said, adding that a "wide-scale investigation" had been launched into the incident.
Three people were detained over the fire on July 12. Two of them were released on July 13.
Heybeliada is one of the four Princes' Islands in the Marmara Sea and the second-largest among Büyükada, Burgazada and Kınalıada, famed for their natural forests.
