Fire in an abandoned house in Menteşe: Neighbors worked with firefighters to protect nearby homes

A fire that broke out late at night in an abandoned house in the Menteşe district of Muğla was brought under control thanks to the efforts of fire crews and neighborhood residents, preventing it from spreading to nearby homes.

The flames quickly engulfed the building

The fire started in an empty building on Basmacı Street in the Kiramettin neighborhood. The flames quickly engulfed the structure in the fire, which broke out for reasons yet to be determined. Upon receiving a report from neighborhood residents who noticed the situation and called the 112 Emergency Call Center, crews were dispatched to the area.

Vehicles were moved out of the way at the last moment

Neighborhood residents also assisted the fire department’s efforts. The fire was extinguished before it could spread to nearby homes or vehicles parked on the street.

Yunus Emre, a neighborhood resident who described the incident, said, “Suddenly, smoke filled the air, and then there was an explosion. We ran around trying to warn people to ‘move your cars.’ The fire department arrived early; if they had been five minutes later, the cars would have burned.”

Abandoned buildings pose a risk

Neighborhood residents suggested that the vacant building had long been used as a gathering place and that the fire may have been caused by a cigarette butt. Abandoned buildings within the neighborhood pose a fire risk, particularly during the summer months, due to the accumulation of dry grass and trash.

The investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Update

September 8, 2026: According to information provided later regarding the incident, the abandoned building was completely destroyed in the fire; damage occurred to the roof of the adjacent house and a vehicle during the response. No one was injured in the incident.

Details: Fire in an abandoned building in Menteşe: Flames spread to the roof of an adjacent house