Turkey forest fire response reports free tunnel passage and massive aerial firefighting effort

The Göcek Tunnel Construction and Contracting Company denied media reports that fire‑fighting vehicles were charged for using the Göcek Tunnel during the Muğla region forest fires, stating that all official vehicles—including fire trucks, water tankers, and police TOMA units—were allowed free and rapid passage.

Turkey’s General Directorate of Forestry reported that, from the start of the year through early August, forest‑fire crews deployed 28 aircraft, 105 helicopters, 14 UAVs, 1,953 ground water‑tanks, 2,766 first‑response vehicles and 878 excavators, supported by about 28,000 personnel and over 141,000 volunteers. Aerial assets logged 8,975 flight hours, completed 18,954 sorties and dropped 55,366 tonnes of water to combat more than 3,200 fires.