After the fires in Alanya and Bolu, opportunists imposed exorbitant price hikes

After hotel fires in Alanya and Bolu, demand for fire safety equipment surged, causing prices to double. Fire extinguishers that previously cost 800–850 TL have risen to 1,500–2,000 TL. The Ministry of Trade imposed fines on businesses engaging in price gouging, while experts warned against companies performing illegal refills.

The hotel fire in Alanya, where workers narrowly escaped death, and the disaster at Grand Kartal Otel in Bolu-Kartalkaya, which claimed 78 lives, triggered a rapid increase in demand for fire safety equipment. As a result, fire extinguisher prices soared from 800–850 TL to 1,500–2,000 TL.

Fire Safety Experts Warn Against Opportunists

Timur Kanay, Vice President of the Association for Fire Extinguishing Systems Research and Development (TÜYANDER), called the price increases speculative and urged citizens to be cautious. He reminded the public that companies refilling fire extinguishers must have a Service Competency Certificate from the Turkish Standards Institute (TSE HYB) and warned against dealing with unauthorized firms.

Ministry of Trade Steps In: Inspections Tightened

The Ministry of Trade announced stricter inspections of fire safety equipment and penalties for businesses applying exorbitant prices. Ministry spokesperson Fatih Uysan stated that inspection teams are actively monitoring the market and issuing fines to companies engaged in price speculation.

Following the Kartalkaya disaster, the importance of fire safety measures has become even clearer. Experts urged citizens to be cautious not only about inflated prices but also about counterfeit and uncertified fire safety equipment.