Forest Blaze in Turkey’s Bursa Province Claims Firefighter’s Life, Prompts Mass Evacuations

A raging forest fire in Turkey’s northwestern Bursa province has claimed the life of a firefighter and injured several others, as extreme heat and strong winds continue to fan the flames across the region.

The firefighter died of a heart attack while battling the blaze and was later pronounced dead at a hospital, Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu confirmed on Sunday. Two forest officers were also hospitalized due to carbon monoxide poisoning, local media reported.

The fire initially broke out in two separate areas of Bursa on Saturday but rapidly spread overnight to three districts, aided by soaring temperatures and gusty winds. Authorities recorded 38°C on Sunday, with a further rise expected to 39°C on Monday.

Emergency teams have so far evacuated 1,765 people from 480 households, the Bursa Governor’s Office said. The fire has scorched more than 100 hectares of land, sparking fears of further damage if not contained soon.

Since late June, Turkey has seen a surge in forest fires across several provinces. Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc announced that investigations into suspected arson are ongoing. “So far, 21 individuals have been arrested, and 47 others are under judicial supervision,” he posted on platform X.

Just days earlier, 10 lives were lost in Eskisehir province, when firefighters and rescue volunteers were overwhelmed while trying to control another massive fire. That incident also left 14 others injured, according to Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya.

With temperatures showing no signs of relief, Turkey’s firefighting forces continue their efforts to control the blaze and protect communities from further destruction.