Bolu inferno: Harrowing negligence over ski resort fire in Türkiye

A devastating fire in Türkiye broke out at the Grand Kartal Hotel in Kartalkaya, one of Türkiye‘s top ski resorts in Bolu province, during the early hours of Tuesday. The hotel had a 90% occupancy rate, with 238 guests staying during the peak season and school semester break.

The blaze started around 3:30 a.m. on the fourth floor in the restaurant area and quickly spread through the 12-story wooden-clad building. The fire claimed 76 lives and left 51 others injured.

Firefighters arrived after about 40-45 minutes following the fire outbreak and worked approximately 11 hours to control the flames. A field hospital was set up nearby to treat the wounded.

The Grand Kartal Hotel, renowned for its luxury and high prices, attracts guests seeking an upscale experience. Nightly rates for bed and breakfast range from ₺18,500 to ₺38,000 ($520 to $1,070), with a week’s stay for two at the highest rate costing approximately ₺266,000.

As official investigations were launched into the matter, Türkiye declared a day of mourning for Wednesday. Turkish media is piecing together the extent of negligence that allowed the fire to become so deadly, as public outrage over the incident continues to grow.

Lack of preparedness of Grand Kartal Hotel fire in Türkiye

• Alarms and emergency systems failure: Witnesses reported that the hotel’s alarms did not sound during the fire, and fire sensors and smoke detectors were not operational. Despite recent updates to Türkiye’s fire prevention regulations, there was a lack of any warning system.
• No fire sprinkler system: The hotel lacked an active fire extinguishing sprinkler system. While sprinklers were shown in photos and reportedly installed in 2008, claims suggest they were never properly constructed.
• Misplaced and unmarked fire exits: Exits in the hotel were not properly indicated, making it difficult for guests to escape during the emergency. The hotel had poorly positioned fire exits, and the exit stairways may have been made entirely of wood, which fueled the fire.
• Extensive wooden cladding: The hotel’s interior and exterior were clad in wood, which not only contributed to the fire’s rapid spread but also posed a risk of collapse.
• Single vehicle entry point: The hotel had only one vehicle entry point at the front, hindering evacuation and firefighting efforts, and making the back side of the building almost entirely inaccessible.
• Municipality vs central government responsibility: Bolu Mayor Tanju Ozcan stated that the hotel’s location is outside Bolu Municipality’s jurisdiction and falls under the Ministry of Tourism’s authority. Ministry of Tourism denied these claims.
• Nepotism allegations: It was revealed that Ozcan had appointed his relative, Sedat Gulener, as the deputy mayor and had transferred control of the Bolu Fire Brigade Directorate to him.
• Lax licensing: Despite safety concerns, the hotel was licensed as a safe facility. This raises questions about the laxity in the licensing process, underscoring the need for stricter regulations.

Investigation and responsibility in Grand Kartal Hotel fire tragedy

A full-scale investigation is underway, with government officials and local authorities offering conflicting statements regarding the fire’s causes and the responsibilities of various bodies.

Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunc announced that six public prosecutors have been appointed to investigate the disastrous fire in Türkiye, alongside a five-person expert committee tasked with assessing the situation.

As of now, nine individuals, including the hotel’s owner, Halit Ergul, have been detained in connection with the disaster. The investigation is expected to explore potential violations of fire safety standards and other relevant factors.

Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy addressed the issue of the hotel’s fire safety measures, stating that inspections were carried out in 2021 and 2024. “The hotel has a fire qualification certificate issued by the fire department,” Ersoy confirmed.

He emphasized that the responsibility for issuing fire safety certificates lies with the fire department and that no negative reports regarding the hotel’s fire adequacy had been received.

“That authority lies with the fire department. To date, we have not been notified of any negative situation regarding fire adequacy by the fire brigade,” Ersoy added.

However, Bolu Mayor Tanju Ozcan disagreed with the minister’s statements and denied any responsibility for the hotel’s oversight.

“The authority to inspect this hotel belongs to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism because it is licensed by the ministry,” Ozcan stated. He further clarified, “It is not within the boundaries of Bolu Municipality. This is not a metropolitan city,” arguing that the municipality had no jurisdiction in the matter. Yet it was revealed that the Bolu Municipality awarded a fire safety certificate to the restaurant on the premises some 20 days prior to the fire on Dec. 24, 2024.

Further contradicting Ozcan’s claim, the 2023 annual report from Bolu Municipality revealed that inspections of accommodation facilities in Bolu were conducted by the municipality.

As the judicial investigation continues, the Bolu Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has launched an inquiry into the incident, seeking to determine whether negligence or misconduct contributed to the deadly fire in Türkiye.