Major forest fire erupts in Istanbul, with helicopters, dozens of units deployed VIDEO

A forest fire that broke out in a wooded area in Beykoz, Istanbul, for reasons that have not yet been determined, spread rapidly before being brought under control, authorities said.

Firefighting teams were dispatched to the scene after eyewitness alerts. The fire was contained by evening through aerial and ground operations, Caliber.Az reports per Turkish media.

However, during cooling efforts, strong winds caused the blaze to reignite, prompting continued firefighting operations throughout the night. Officials later confirmed that the fire was brought under control again around 01:00 local time.

In a statement, the Istanbul Governor’s Office said: “The forest fire that started in the Kılıçlı area of the Beykoz district and was brought under control at around 18:30 reignited due to wind. The fire, in which teams from the Regional Directorate of Forestry, the fire department, and AFAD participated, was brought under control again at around 01:00; cooling operations are ongoing in the area.”

Authorities said that 3 helicopters, 51 vehicles, and 146 personnel were deployed to fight the fire. Approximately 14 hectares of forest plantations and shrubland were affected.

Deputy Mayor of Beykoz Özlem Vural Gürzel said teams initially managed to contain the fire, but it reignited due to wind conditions. She added that large-scale firefighting teams continue to work on-site, supported by water tankers and construction equipment, stressing that operations will continue until the fire is fully extinguished.

By Jeyhun Aghazada