A devastating wildfire broke out on June 29, 2025, in Orhanlı Village, located in the Seferihisar district of İzmir — where Doğa Derneği’s main office is also based. Fueled by extreme heat and strong winds, the fire quickly turned into a major disaster.
The wildfire did not only affect our region but also broke out simultaneously in other parts of İzmir. According to official sources, over 50,000 people were evacuated from more than 40 settlements. While some homes were completely destroyed, others were partially damaged. Wildlife and ecosystems across İzmir were seriously affected. NASA satellite data shows that by the end of the second day, more than 10,000 hectares in our region had burned.
From the very beginning, Doğa Derneği’s staff, volunteers, and members mobilised on the ground. We helped relocate domestic animals to safety, supported efforts to protect homes, coordinated the use of heavy machinery, and assisted with the effective deployment of public personnel. At the same time, we used our communication channels to keep the public and authorities informed and to contribute to the control of the fire.
By the morning of June 30, wind speeds decreased, and the spread of the fire slowed down, allowing cooling efforts to begin. We remained in the field, continued to monitor the situation in real-time, and maintained our support.
What We Did During the Fire
From the first day, there was no access to water or electricity.
– We delivered drinking water to every household,
– Provided generators for the elderly and sick,
– Supplied medicines and directed medical teams,
– Provided food and water to emergency response teams.
Urgent Needs
Based on our field observations and conversations with the residents during the fire, we have compiled an Emergency Needs List to ensure faster and more effective response to similar future disasters:
– 5 generators with 20 kW capacity
– At least 20 firefighter-type gas masks (especially for young volunteers)
– 50 rechargeable, long-lasting home-use lamps
– At least 10 water tankers (10 tons each) to be placed throughout the village
📍If you would like to support this list of urgent needs, you can donate here:
👉 https://fonzip.com/dogadernegi/donation
(Donations are accepted in USD, EUR, and GBP.)
We are working together to heal the wounds of this disaster and to be better prepared for the future. Thank you for your solidarity.
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