Wildfire in Fethiye Brings Evacuations as Flames Come Under Control

A series of wildfires broke out across Muğla, Turkey, threatening residential neighborhoods and prompting the evacuation of 78 households and a local nursing home before emergency crews brought the flames largely under control on Aug. 28, 2026.

According to Muğla Governor İdris Akbıyık, 10 separate forest fires ignited across different points in the province, including in Ula, Menteşe, Yatağan, Milas, Bodrum, Köyceğiz, Seydikemer, and Fethiye. The blazes in Fethiye’s Foça and Karagedik neighborhoods, alongside a separate fire in Köyceğiz triggered by a fuel tanker explosion, created risks for local populations. High temperatures, strong winds, and low humidity created dangerous conditions.

Evacuations and Hospitalizations in Fethiye

As shifting winds pushed flames close to residential areas in Fethiye, authorities ordered immediate evacuations to prevent casualties. According to Muğla Governor İdris Akbıyık, 574 residents across 78 households were moved away from danger zones.

The Fethiye Nursing Home was evacuated as a precaution. Officials transferred 64 elderly residents from the facility to safe locations, while 16 individuals suffered from smoke inhalation and received treatment at Fethiye State Hospital.

Local villagers and emergency responders worked to combat the advancing wall of fire. According to the İhlas News Agency, some residents used buckets of water to fight the flames.

Coordination and Response Operations

The General Directorate of Forestry (OGM) announced that both the Köyceğiz tanker-explosion fire and the Fethiye forest fires were brought largely under control following a massive coordinated deployment.

Köyceğiz’de yakıt tankeri patlaması sonucu meydana gelen yangın, Fethiye’de başlayan yangın, her iki yangını da ekiplerimizin havadan ve karadan yoğun müdahalesi sonucu büyük ölçüde kontrol altına alındı.

Orman Genel Müdürlüğü

Governor Akbıyık stated that 194 vehicles and night-vision-capable helicopters spearheaded the firefighting efforts. Public institutions mobilized all available assets, deploying gendarmerie commandos, police special operations units, the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD), municipal teams, and local volunteers to the front lines.

Public Warnings Amid Ongoing High Fire Risk

Although the fires were contained without any reported loss of life, authorities stressed that the crisis had not fully passed. Crews remained stationed to completely control the fires.

Governor Akbıyık issued a direct appeal to the public to exercise extreme caution during the high-risk weather window.

Lütfen ormanlarımızda ateş yakmayalım, mangal yakmayalım, izmarit atmayalım. Azami özeni ve dikkati gösterelim. Şu haftayı inşallah yangınsız, kazasız, belasız atlatmak istiyoruz.

Muğla Governor İdris Akbıyık