‘Fires are contained in the evening, they start burning again in the morning’

* Photo: Ömer Kundakçı - AA

Click to read the article in Turkish

The fire that has been raging in Muğla's Köyceğiz for nearly 10 days frightens not only the residents of the district but those of villages as well. Though the fires have not reached the villages, the villagers are worried. The neighborhood heads are trying to take all measures and to prevent the further spread of the fire. They have spoken to bianet about their efforts:

'I have been in the mountains for 12 days'

Köyceğiz Neighborhood Head Arıkan Daşgın: "The fire has been taken under control now. There are cooling-off efforts. The fire has been ongoing in Kızıltepe. Water sprinklers have been working. I have been in the mountains for 12 days. I have not been to my house. There are no losses of life or property. We watered down the critical spots.

"There are 3 spots. There is a team of 45 people. Water sprinklers have been positioned around the village. There is a team of 1,000 volunteers."

'It is nothing but hearsay'

Gelişim Neighborhood Head Ali Örnek: "The fire is far away from our neighborhood. Measures have been taken in the neighborhood. Our mountain is blazing. It is just hearsay that the fire has been stopped or prevented."

'I am lucky that there is no forest'

Zaferler Neighborhood Head Sedat Ayhan: "The fires has been taken under control in Otmanlar. There is no fire in my neighborhood. I am lucky that there is no forest in my neighborhood.

"We have taken measures. Dozers, earth diggers and excavators have been alert. I am so sorry. The fire has been raging for 10 days."

'We keep watch day and night'

Döğüşbelen Neighborhood Head Sedat Gökpınar: "The fire is now effective in the Ağla Neighborhood and Otmanlar Neighborhood. There are cooling-off efforts in some parts of Otmanlar.

"It is 10 kilometers away from our neighborhood. The wind is in the opposite direction to our village. We are keeping watch day and night. We bought equipment. Rakes, fire extinguishers, shovels, diggers... We have filled up the tankers. We have collected the pieces of glass from the forest. The state officials did not came, we went there with volunteers."

'We have been waiting for 15 days'

Otmanlar Neighborhood Head Cemal Dağdelen: "The fire is under control now. There are cooling efforts. There are small-scale losses of property. 2-3 houses, agricultural equipment and water pipes have burned. We will wait for 15 days. Fire brigade and municipal teams are here."

'Fire not taken under control'

Pınar Neighborhood Head Cemal Sıkkın: "The fire here has not been taken under control. There is no danger in the residential areas. Water sprinklers and fire brigade teams have been on watch."

'It is contained in the evening, but...'

Çandır Neighborhood Head Salih Yukarlı: "Fires have been ongoing in villages. They are taken under control in the evening and continue in the morning. We wait for good news in the afternoon.

"There is none in our neighborhood. We have taken measures with water tankers and fire fighters."

'Fire broke out in 150-household village'

Çayhisar Neighborhood Head Resmi Korkut: "A fire broke out in the 150-household village. In places where the fire is not extinguished, we put them out together with our brothers and sisters from Azerbaijan. We are working with a team of 30. There are no losses of life or property."

'Volunteers not admitted'

A neighborhood head who prefers being anonymous: "There is no fire here now. The fire in the olive groves outside the village has not been extinguished. Volunteers are not admitted to the fire zones." (NÇ/AÖ/SD)