Karabük Forest Fires (July 2025)

In July 2025, forest fires rapidly spread by wind occurred in the Safranbolu Ovacık and Keltepe regions of Karabük. The fires began on 23 July 2025. A total of 1386 personnel 389 ground vehicles 3 aircraft and 16 helicopters were deployed to combat the fires; the aerial assets involved amounted to 19 aircraft operating on site. In Safranbolu and Ovacık 19 villages and 928 households were evacuated and 1839 citizens were relocated to safe areas. On the evening of 28 July a new fire broke out in the Keltepe region. Response efforts have continued with contributions from public institutions volunteers and NGOs.

Origin and Spread of the Fires

The fire began on Wednesday 23 July 2025 at 14:42 at the cemetery location in Çavuşlar Village of Safranbolu district in Karabük. Fueled by wind the fire spread rapidly threatening nearby settlements. On the same day around 16:29 a second fire ignited in a forested area near the center of Kışla Village in Ovacık district.

On the fifth day of the Safranbolu and Ovacık fires on Monday 28 July 2025 at approximately 19:00 a new fire was detected near Kabaoğlu Neighborhood of Kahyalar Village under Karabük’s jurisdiction. According to an official statement by the Karabük Governorship the fire started at 18:06 at the Pirinçlik location in Kahyalar Village. Flames quickly jumped to the Keltepe and Aladağ forested areas becoming visible from the city center. Response efforts involved Forest Management Directorates municipal fire units the Provincial Special Administration DSİ Kardemir A.Ş. AFAD Highways Authority Gendarmerie Police units support teams from neighboring provinces and volunteers.

Operational Response and Resources

In responding to the Safranbolu and Ovacık fires the Odun Organization Forest Management Directorate AFAD gendarmerie fire units and municipal teams operated in coordinated fashion. Ground firefighting operations utilized all-terrain vehicles TOMA units water tankers construction machinery bulldozers and graders ensuring access despite challenging terrain conditions.

Along the Safranbolu–Ovacık front 1225 personnel 122 all-terrain vehicles 39 initial response vehicles 20 water supply vehicles 17 bulldozers 7 graders 30 excavators 13 fire engines 20 tankers 3 front loaders 7 ambulances 27 search and rescue vehicles 20 TOMA units and 2 catering vehicles were deployed on site. In aerial support 14 helicopters and 1 aircraft were actively engaged.

Due to the evening start of the Keltepe fire aerial assets were initially grounded. Ground-based response intensified with coordinated operations conducted by Forest Management teams fire units AFAD gendarmerie and local municipal forces.

Official data from Karabük reported that a total of approximately 1386 personnel and 389 ground vehicles were deployed to combat the fires while aerial support consisted of 3 aircraft and 16 helicopters.

Evacuations and Affected Settlements

As a result of the Safranbolu and Ovacık fires 18 villages and 50 neighborhoods were evacuated and 1839 people were relocated to safe areas. Damage occurred to homes stables and storage structures in these areas due to fire threats. AFAD and local administrations provided emergency shelter container placement and cash assistance.

Due to the Keltepe fire on 28 July certain neighborhoods in Kahyalar and Kale villages were evacuated as a precaution. Local residents particularly in the evacuated villages attempted to halt the fire’s advance by plowing fields using tractors and construction machinery.

Challenges and Geographic Conditions

The fire zone’s mountainous rocky and canyon-filled terrain made access difficult. Dense fog and smoke during nighttime severely restricted aerial operations. Response teams could conduct only localized ground interventions during brief daytime windows of aerial support and established firebreaks in accessible areas.

Coordination Official Statements and Public Communication

Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı surveyed the response operations from the air and reported that the Safranbolu fire continued throughout the night with significant difficulties in accessing the terrain for machinery and all-terrain vehicles due to ground conditions. He noted that planned morning aerial support was insufficient due to fog. The minister emphasized that although the fires were brought under control cooling operations would continue.

Minister of Interior Ali Yerlikaya stated that in the Karabük fires 1386 personnel 389 vehicles 3 aircraft and 16 helicopters a total of 19 aerial vehicles were deployed and 1839 people were evacuated.

Vali Mustafa Yavuz and AK Party Member of Parliament for Karabük Cem Şahin visited the fire site and contributed to coordinating response efforts and providing logistical support. Şahin stated that the fire was one of the largest in Karabük’s history and noted that damage assessment and reconstruction efforts had begun in areas declared disaster zones.

Bringing the Fires Under Control

Agriculture and Forestry Minister İbrahim Yumaklı announced on 29 July 2025 that all 55 forest fires that had broken out across Türkiye in the past 24 hours had been brought under control. In response to the fires in Karabük, fires along the Safranbolu and Ovacık fronts were largely halted; the fire that began at the Kahyalar location was brought under control during nighttime hours. Minister Yumaklı emphasized that the Karabük fires presented an exceptionally challenging situation due to their proximity to populated areas and difficult geographical conditions, and confirmed that cooling operations in the region were ongoing.

The fire affecting the area around Kahyalar village was brought under control after approximately 12 hours of intense intervention. Nearly 500 personnel participated in these operations, supported by 174 ground vehicles and four helicopters actively deployed on-site. On the other two main fire fronts in Safranbolu and Ovacık, the spread of the fires has been stopped, and teams have fully shifted their focus to extinguishing and cooling activities.