A British couple and a 16-year-old family friend sustained burns after joining the effort to combat a wildfire near their holiday accommodation in Fethiye, Turkey. George Maslen, 34, his partner Kaleigh Marie, 36, and Freddie Davies, 16, spent over four hours assisting firefighters, filling water containers, extinguishing embers, and delivering supplies to emergency personnel.
The group, from Wiltshire, were on holiday when they noticed smoke approaching their villa in the early morning. By mid-morning, the fire had appeared on a nearby hillside, prompting them to investigate. They found roads blocked by police, preventing access. According to Maslen, Marie stated, "Babe, no one's helping. We've got to do something," to which Maslen replied, "Okay, let's do this."
They began filling water containers and passing them up the hillside. Maslen later boarded a truck moving further down the road, while Marie and Davies worked to put out burning embers. When a fire engine arrived, Maslen briefly operated its water cannon. Realizing emergency workers lacked sufficient water, the trio purchased and delivered approximately 600 bottles of water to the scene.
Despite wearing only flip-flops and sliders, they entered the woods, enduring burns to their feet, hands, and faces from hot embers. "It was like being at the gates of hell," George Maslen described the intense heat and danger. He noted that they were pouring water for the firefighters, who were visibly thirsty.
Maslen reported struggling to walk for several days and anticipates a scar on his lower lip from a large ember. Marie, who has arthritis, continued working for hours despite pain. Davies sustained minor scratches and small burns that healed quickly.
Upon returning to the area the next day, the trio observed that the once lush vegetation had been reduced to a barren, blackened landscape.
The wildfire broke out in the Yeşilüzümlü area of Fethiye and spread rapidly due to strong winds. Firefighters, forestry crews, and local residents collaborated on the efforts, with helicopters collecting water from a nearby reservoir. The fire later reignited, threatening residential areas, which led to an urgent appeal from Fethiye officials for fire extinguishers.
This incident occurs amidst a summer of widespread wildfires across Europe, exacerbated by record-breaking heat and dry conditions. Southern Greece has also faced significant fires, leading to evacuations and property destruction. In France, firefighters continue to monitor a large burn scar in the Bordeaux region, and the UK has experienced its driest July in nearly two centuries, with large parts of England and Wales officially in drought.