Fires Ravage the Forests of Dersim

Forest fires broke out at eight different locations, mainly near military outposts, in the southeastern province of Dersim on Wednesday. The raging blazes also spread onto nearby forests, while Hozat District Mayor Cevdet Konak told bianet that the fires had started due to the use of bombs in ongoing military operations in the area.

Both Mayor Konak and the Munzur Conservation Council of the Federation of Dersim Associations (DEDEF) complained about official indifference to the situation.

DEDEF also confirmed that a fire broke out at around 03:00 in the morning in the hamlet of Ger in Nazimiye's Dalıbahçe village over the Peri Valley, located at the juncture of the southeastern provinces of Dersim, Elazığ and Bingöl, in consequence of military troops shooting in the area.

Two other fires also broke out after soldiers began firing from the Balören military outpost in Dersim's Hozat district, according to DEDEF, while forests near the hamlet of Kızılköm and the Nergiz Baba Hill caught fire in three separate locations due to troops shooting out from the Çiçekli military outpost.

Mayor Konak said the blazes were still raging on the Bozan Uplands, the Aliboğaz Valley and the Armutka region in northwestern Hozat as well.

"Why would fires suddenly erupt right next to military outposts across different locations in the district? The villagers also confirmed that the fires started after [troops] or helicopter gunships began firing," Mayor Konak said.

Officials did not even attempt to intervene to enxtinguish the fires, according to DEDEF.

Mayor Konak also reproached the Directorate of Forestry Management  in downtown Dersim for their indifference to the matter and said they had done nothing up till now, despite the fact that they had promised to intervene.

"[Officials] also failed to put out the fire [that began] 500 meters across the Yüceldi military outpost, some 10 kilometers away from the district center," Mayor Konak added.

Mayor Konak complained about the outbreak of forest fires every year and said four staff members from the Directorate of Forestry Management were currently trying to put out the ongoing blazes with axes.

"Of course, this does not suffice. No aid is coming to the district from other places either. It is impossible for fire engines to climb into the forests that are on fire, and our municipality does not possess any other means, such as engineering vehicles, [to fight the fire] either," he said. (AS)