Forest fires fanned by strong winds threatened homes in the southwestern and southern Turkish seaside resorts, but were partly brought under control and most were extinguished early Monday, authorities said.

The fires have already consumed nearly 1,500 hectares over the past two days, including near popular resorts on the Aegean coast.

"The fires extend continuously from Kahramanmaras, in southeast Turkey to Manavgat, in the south. They erupted simultaneously, which leads us to believe they were deliberately set," said Turkey's Environment and Forestry Minister Osman Pepe on Monday.

Backed by helicopters and planes, fire-fighters from the Forestry Ministry were joined by locals, tourists and employees of hotels in the areas to extinguish the fires.

There were also claims that prosecutors were already looking into reports that the fires may have been deliberately lit.

4 forest fires broke in Izmir simultaneously causing evacuations of the holiday resorts and destroying 100 hectare of pine forest. The fires also affected traffic and fire brigade teams closed the roads from time to time. Officials claim that sparks in electric lines might have caused the fires.

It is said the fires in Foca and Kemalpasa districts were completely extinguished.

While fires in Cesme were taken under control, a new forest fire in Bodrum yesterday night which started simultaneously in 4 different locations were completely extinguished.

The fire in Antalya's Manavgat district were taken under control while the fire completely ruined 350 hectare of forest. In Alanya district another fire broke near highway which was partly extinguished.

The cooling studies continue around the areas affected by the fires.