Turkiye: Emergency crews responding to wildfire on outskirts of Izmir as of Aug. 16 /update 1

Emergency crews continue to respond to a wildfire burning in northern areas of Izmir as of late Aug. 16. The fire broke out in the Yamanlar area of Karsikaya District late Aug. 15 and has spread rapidly amid warm and windy conditions. The fire has grown in size and is threatening the suburban areas on the northern outskirts of Izmir, including those in the Karsikaya, the neighboring Bayrakli, and the Cigli districts. At least 700 firefighters and 20 aircraft are working to control the blaze. Further wildfire growth is possible. Authorities have issued evacuation orders to residents of the Dogancay and Sancakli neighborhoods, as well as part of Onur neighborhood. Depending on the fire's progress, officials may issue additional evacuation orders. Poor air quality due to smoke has been reported in central Izmir.

Authorities will likely keep affected areas cordoned off to vehicular and pedestrian traffic as crews work to extinguish the blaze; the status of nearby roads will probably change over the coming hours. The fire and the emergency response may cause localized business disruptions. Authorities could evacuate additional communities due to fire activity and the need for response operations. Low visibility from smoke and ashfall could also contribute to traffic delays and congestion in the region and may disrupt operations at nearby airfields. Power outages are possible in affected areas.