Experts Warn of Unprecedented Heat and Fire Risks After July

Experts warn that unprecedented heat and high humidity after July could pose serious health risks and increase the danger of forest fires. They emphasize that climate change is altering fire patterns and stress the need for greater public awareness and preparedness.

Scraper SystemJune 07, 2026, 02:20 PM

Experts Warn of Unprecedented Heat and Fire Risks After July

Prof. Dr. Levent Kurnaz, Director of Boğaziçi University Climate Change and Policies Implementation and Research Center, and Prof. Dr. Ali Kavgacı, Chairman of the Scientific Board of the Turkish Foresters Association and faculty member at Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University, issued warnings about heat and forest fires for the summer of 2026.

Prof. Dr. Kurnaz stated that forest fires are caused by human activity and highlighted carelessness as one of the main reasons. He emphasized that protecting forests is critical for life and rainfall patterns, and stressed the necessity for citizens to become aware of how to behave in the event of fires.

Kurnaz added that people should be able to assist with firefighting efforts using their own means until help teams and firefighters arrive at the scene. He underlined the importance of properly training citizens in high-risk forest fire areas and suggested organizing volunteer groups for fires, similar to those formed during earthquakes.

Prof. Dr. Kurnaz noted the high likelihood of experiencing unprecedented temperatures after July, warning that high heat combined with humidity can have even more deadly effects. He pointed out that such conditions are especially dangerous for the elderly, citing the 2003 heatwave in the French capital that claimed 17,000 lives in two weeks as an example.

Kurnaz also drew attention to changes in rainfall patterns. He said that calm, soil-moistening rains may decrease, while short, intense downpours could increase, which do not significantly help prevent forest fires. According to him, both human negligence and shifts in rainfall patterns could create conditions ripe for serious fires.

Changing Fire Regime

Prof. Dr. Ali Kavgacı explained that fires have occurred worldwide for 400 million years and ecosystems have adapted to burning during this time, but human intervention has altered the natural fire regime. He noted that forest fires are now discussed more intensively and over a longer season than in the past.

Kavgacı said that while fires in İzmir were previously mostly discussed from late July to early August, today the risk extends from June to November. He added that fires of 100-200 hectares were once considered large, but now fires exceeding 1,000 hectares are commonly reported. He also mentioned that forest fires in Turkey exceeded 5,000 incidents in 2025.

With rising temperatures, forests lose moisture more easily and become more flammable, making large fires harder to extinguish, Kavgacı explained. He said atmospheric conditions are needed to help control fires, such as temperature drops, increased humidity, and calm winds.

Kavgacı also noted that in the last decade, settlements near forests in İzmir have increased, while residents have limited experience with fires, complicating fire management. He described this as a situation where urban residents unfamiliar with rural life face challenges similar to those living in the countryside. He recalled that fires can start from various causes, from spiral cutting to machinery use.

Kavgacı emphasized that new urban settlers in İzmir, Çanakkale, Manisa, and Bursa need greater awareness and behavioral change regarding forest fires. He stated that the high risk of large fires is closely linked not only to nature but also to human habits.

Experts Warn of Unprecedented Heat and Fire Risks After July