By A.J. Griffiths-Jones

Last year Turkiye suffered 3,224 forest fires in total, with human negligence and accidents cited as the leading cause. So why are we seeing a rising number again this summer?

Wildfire season is generally between June and October with heatwaves, dry winds and drought causing spikes in risk, the arid Mediterranean and Aegean coastal areas being particularly vulnerable.

Core causes here are the burning of stubble ground, agricultural clearing after harvest and unextinguished campfires. However, there are no statistics for the cases that are specifically cigarette-related, which is very significant if we look at the practicalities of drivers smoking in vehicles.

By the mid 2000s car manufacturers had largely removed ashtrays and replaced them with cup and phone holders and by early 2010 they were completely absent in new vehicles coming off the production line.

Therefore, in a country where at least 40% of the population smoke, it stands to reason that a great deal of cigarette ends are being discarded through open car windows.

Nobody takes responsibility, drivers are oblivious to the ensuing blazes and dry grass is easily ignited, rapidly turning into a fire that takes hours to get under control. It is a situation that needs to be addressed sooner rather than later, although banning smoking in cars is almost impossible to enforce.

In 2026, we have also noticed more rubbish and fly-tipping than ever before due to the influx of holidaymakers, summer residents and day visitors. A stroll along Akbuk seafront, Sahte Cennet or Fevzipasa on any morning will reveal debris left behind by evening campers and picnickers who have discarded their plastic bottles, nappies, food wrappers and such, without a care in the world. Is it really so difficult to collect up what was brought along and dispose of it in a bin on the way home?

A more alarming site are the dozens of upturned portable camping barbecues that have undoubtedly been abandoned with the hot coals still smouldering. Despite the council intervention of putting up signs banning the use of outdoor cooking equipment, it remains a daily occurrence and high fire risk in many areas.

Fly-tipping, or the dumping of unwanted household or building materials, has also become a huge problem this year. With no information on where to dispose of large items or the means to transport them, many residents have resorted to leaving old sofas, white goods and other items on the side of the road, in the hope a council truck will turn up to get rid of them.

Sadly these items are left for weeks, many soft furnishings being flammable and causing risk of fire to surrounding neighbourhoods. The foam of a 30-year-old chair would take mere seconds to ignite, and the consequences would be devastating if not put out immediately.

Kudos to the local groups who are resolutely targeting these issues, with regular clean-up days and photographs of problem areas being reported to the relevant council offices.

Everyone must set an example, clearing up their own rubbish, litter-picking outside of the home whenever possible and disposing of waste responsibly. Easily said but much harder to regulate with a fluctuating population of tourists. Hopefully things can be turned around, but how soon?

There are so many factors contributing to fires starting here in Turkiye but sadly the majority of incidents are caused by humans behaving irresponsibly.

Perhaps many would stop and think about their behaviour if they realised the tragic cost of life, both of rescue personnel and wildlife. In 2025 alone, at least 14 firefighters lost their lives over here, with another tragic accident involving fire department helicopters occurring across the water in Greece this week.

If some citizens are to hold so little regard for the environment, maybe a reminder is needed of how tirelessly and bravely firefighters work, risking their own safety to protect others, natural habitats, animals and the beautiful country in which we live.