The Dilovası Industrial Fire: An Evaluation of an Occupational Safety Disaster from the Perspectives of Fire Engineering and Public Oversight

The industrial fire that occurred in November 2025 in the Dilovası district of Kocaeli was recorded as a serious occupational safety disaster, resulting in the deaths of seven workers. The fire, which broke out in a cosmetics/perfume manufacturing facility where flammable chemicals were used, should be regarded not merely as a technical malfunction but as a combination of regulatory shortcomings, non-compliant production practices, and inadequate risk management. This study aims to examine the Dilovası fire through the lenses of fire engineering, occupational health and safety (OHS), and public oversight, and to discuss the lessons that should be drawn to prevent similar industrial accidents.

Industrial fires in highly industrialized regions lead not only to production losses but also, in many cases, to irreparable loss of life. Dilovası, one of Turkey’s most densely industrialized zones, has long been associated with environmental and industrial risks. The factory fire that occurred in 2025 emerged as a concrete and tragic manifestation of these risks.

The fire took place at a cosmetics/perfume production facility operating in the Mimar Sinan neighborhood of Dilovası. According to initial assessments, the fire originated in an area where highly flammable substances such as ethyl alcohol were used in the production process and rapidly spread throughout the entire building. Due to heavy smoke and the rapid spread of flames, the evacuation of workers inside the facility was largely impossible, and the incident resulted in the loss of seven lives.

Technical Evaluation of the Fire

When the incident is assessed from a fire engineering perspective, three fundamental technical factors stand out:

Management of Flammable Materials

In facilities where ethyl alcohol and similar volatile chemicals are used, the following are considered mandatory safety measures:

• Control of static electricity,

• Use of explosion-proof (Ex-proof) equipment,

• Adequate ventilation systems.

Investigations indicate that these measures were largely insufficient.

Structural and Passive Fire Safety Deficiencies

Within the building:

• The absence of fire compartmentation,

• Inadequate emergency exit routes,

• The lack of fire-resistant coatings and fire-rated doors

contributed to the rapid and uncontrolled spread of the fire.

Active Fire Protection Systems

Findings indicating that sprinkler systems, automatic fire detection, and alarm systems were either completely absent or not operational made it impossible to control the fire at an early stage.

Findings from an Occupational Health and Safety Perspective

Post-fire investigations revealed allegations that the facility:

• Operated without a license or with incomplete permits,

• Failed to conduct periodic occupational health and safety (OHS) inspections,

• Did not provide adequate fire safety training to employees.

This situation demonstrates that, although the fire was a foreseeable and preventable risk, the necessary precautions were not taken.

Public Oversight and the Legal Process

Within the scope of the judicial investigation initiated after the incident, legal proceedings were brought against the business owners and managers on charges of negligence and probable intent. In addition, the failure to effectively operate inspection mechanisms has also raised questions regarding the responsibility of public authorities. In this respect, the Dilovası fire should be considered not merely as an instance of corporate negligence, but also as a systemic failure of oversight.

Discussion: A Preventable Disaster?

The available findings indicate that the Dilovası fire could have been largely prevented through:

• Proper risk analysis,

• Appropriate fire engineering–based design,

• Effective and independent inspection mechanisms.

The incident once again demonstrated that, particularly in facilities handling flammable materials, a safety culture implemented in practice rather than remaining “on paper” is of vital importance.

Conclusion and Recommendations

The Dilovası industrial fire clearly demonstrates the need to reassess fire safety and occupational health policies in industrial facilities in Turkey. In this context:

• Fire engineering–based design should be made mandatory in facilities using flammable chemicals.

• Inspections should not be limited to documentation reviews, but should be effectively conducted on-site.

• Not only business owners but also public institutions with inspection authority should be held accountable.

• Regular fire safety training and emergency drills should be provided to employees.

This incident serves as a painful reminder that fires are not a matter of “fate,” but are most often the result of negligence.