Preparations for forest fires have been completed in Antalya, Turkey, a region with approximately 1.2 million hectares of forest. Following the forest fires that lasted for days in Kemer last July, the city has enhanced its fleet of vehicles for air and land interventions against fires. For the upcoming fire season, the Antalya Forestry Regional Directorate has added 6 light class helicopters, 2 heavy class helicopters, a night vision helicopter, 2 small tanker planes, and UAVs, in addition to the existing helicopter and aircraft fleet.
In terms of land intervention, there are currently 51 first intervention vehicles, 117 fire trucks, 33 water supply vehicles, 2 heavy tonnage water supply vehicles, 15 bulldozers, 14 loaders, 15 graders, 8 excavators, and 10 trailers ready for deployment in the region. Moreover, 309 technical personnel, 413 forest rangers, and 1279 workers are on duty to tackle potential fires. Measures have been taken to ensure water sources for helicopters by increasing the number of fire ponds in forests from 288 to 302 at intervals of 5 kilometers, while land vehicles have been strategically positioned at 143 points to respond to fires within approximately 15 minutes.
To facilitate early detection, remote monitoring, and efficient decision-making, 35 cameras have been installed in observation towers across the region. Governor Hulusi Şahin highlighted that 57% of the province’s territory is covered by forests. He emphasized the importance of a joint effort to protect forests and mentioned ongoing educational activities at the International Forestry Training Center in the city. Governor Şahin stressed that forest fire prevention is a shared responsibility for all residents, with various organizations and citizens being well-prepared and conscious.
Governor Şahin pointed out that the majority of forest fires are caused by human activities. Campaigns such as “Forest is Mine” have been organized throughout the year to raise awareness among the public about the importance of preserving forests and using them sustainably. The aim is to prevent fires by educating citizens before they occur. Governor Şahin assured that they are well-prepared with both personnel and equipment to respond to potential fires, with an increasing fleet of vehicles and helicopters each year. The cooperation between different agencies and the availability of advanced equipment ensure readiness to combat fires effectively.
Antalya Forestry Regional Director Vedat Dikici emphasized that over 90% of forest fires in the province are human-caused. While 786 hectares were damaged in 171 forest fires last year, only 33 hectares have been affected by 19 fires this year. Dikici stressed the high sensitivity to fires in 10 out of 14 forest management directorates in the region. With a total of 10 helicopters, 6 planes, an UAV, workers, dozers, and graders, the organization is constantly monitoring forests from the air and is well-prepared to respond to fires round the clock.
Dikici urged everyone to take responsibility for protecting forests by refraining from activities that could potentially lead to fires, such as having picnics in random spots, littering, or burning trash. He also warned against setting fires due to personal grievances or false reasons like the presence of animals. Recalling the devastating fire that affected 60,000 hectares of land in Manavgat in 2021, Dikici stressed the importance of avoiding similar tragedies and urged the public to be mindful and cautious while in forested areas.
