Negligence by Turkish officials, rather than villagers burning stubble, has been identified as the primary cause of a recent wildfire in Diyarbakır (Amed) and Mardin (Mêrdîn) provinces, according to the report by the Diyarbakır (Amed) Branch of Turkey’s Association of Electrical Engineers (EMO).
The newly released EMO report contradicts official claims of stubble burning as the cause of a major fire between Diyarbakır’s Çınar (Xana Axpar) and Mardin’s Mazıdağı (Şemrex) districts, dismissing that theory and highlighting lapses in fire prevention along transmission lines.
The EMO’s investigation revealed several key findings:
“The area where the fire started was cultivated without stubble,” the report stated. It also noted multiple instances of damaged connections along transmission lines, improper use of safety fuses and loose connections that could lead to faults. Broken insulators on many poles were also identified as a risk.
Additionally, the report criticised the use of wooden poles in high-voltage lines passing through agricultural areas, pointing to inadequate fire safety measures around poles, including the absence of concrete bases and untrimmed grass at their bases.
Meanwhile, in Şanlıurfa (Riha), neglect in the maintenance of transformers and electrical lines was linked to a devastating fire that destroyed 57 acres of wheat. Tarım Orkam-Sen, a trade union representing workers in agriculture, forestry, environmental and livestock services in Turkey, attributed the blaze to sparks from electrical lines, highlighting previous complaints ignored by the authorities.
Hasan Aslan, President of the Şanlıurfa Branch of Tarım Orkam-Sen, stressed the urgent need for regular maintenance of electrical poles: “Failure to maintain these poles and address connection issues can lead to fires. It’s crucial to act promptly.”
