Hundreds of volunteers help to contain Turkey wildfires
MUGLA, Turkey — Actor Tevfik Erman Kutlu was on a break from filming in Istanbul when wildfires that devastated swaths of southern Turkey first erupted.
Desperate to play a part in efforts to put out the fires, he and five friends drove 450 miles to the coastal resort of Marmaris to lend a helping hand to combat the blazes.
Once there, the friends formed a human chain helping to carry fire extinguishers, unfolded and rushed a firetruck’s hose to firefighters and even tackled a hillside fire themselves, dousing pressurized water on flames under the guidance of fire crews.
“Instead of sitting at home and watching videos of the fires on social media, I wanted to be of use,” said the 41-year-old film and television actor.
They are among the hundreds of volunteers who have joined efforts to contain blazes that have swept through forests in Turkey’s southern and southwestern coasts, fueled by a summer heat wave, low humidity and strong winds. The fires, described as Turkey’s worst in living memory, have so far killed eight people, including a volunteer who was carrying drinking water to firefighters in Marmaris.
The fires have also killed countless animals, destroyed acres of forests near the country’s favorite tourist destinations, and forced thousands of evacuations. Farmlands have also been ravaged, leaving many in the region concerned about their livelihood.
In coastal Mugla province, where the tourist destinations of Bodrum and Marmaris are located, fires continued to burn in three areas on Friday, officials said. Blazes in Marmaris were largely contained by Friday, according to its mayor. Fires raging in two districts of Antalya province, another tourism spot, were also brought under control.
In Turgut, the visibly tired volunteers were resting after assisting the crews, some lying on the ground, others helping each other with eyedrops or nursing cuts and grazes. Elsewhere other volunteers, including veterinarians, have helped injured farm or wild animals.
“At first we were 15 volunteers,” said Nuriye Caglar, a 59-year-old pensioner from Marmaris. “I don’t know how many we are now. Forty or 50?”
Mehmet Kara, a 36-yearold tourism agent who drove with Kutlu from
Istanbul said: “There was an unbelievable effort, sacrifice up there by our friends. We fought the fires all together, we cooperated.”
On Friday, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said authorities would no longer allow people other than those authorized to fight blazes to approach the fires.
“God forbid, in addition to these (fires) we may have to deal with injuries or similar things. We do not want to experience that,” Erdogan said.
It’s not unusual for people in Turkey to mobilize during times of crisis, such as earthquakes. Many jump into cars to head to the afflicted regions, taking food, water, clothing or blankets.
Meanwhile in Greece, which had suffered a record heat wave, Civil Protection chief Nikos Hardalias said firefighters faced “exceptionally dangerous, unprecedented conditions” as they battled 154 wildfires Friday, with 64 still burning into the night.