Is Turkey ready for forest fires?

Photo: Süleyman Elçin / Anadolu Ajansı

Click to read the article in Turkish

In the last year, 2,793 fires that broke out in Turkey burnt more than the area affected by fires in a decade.

According to the data of the General Directorate of Forestry, an area of 139 thousand 503 hectares was burnt last year. This area is greater than 15 percent of İstanbul, or 250 thousand football fields.

CLICK: Sixty-five percent of last decade's forest losses in Turkey occurred in 2021 wildfires

The biggest criticism was against the government in the fight against fires that broke out in 2021.

While the wildfires were widely discussed by the public, the government received the harshest criticism. The announcement that the Turkish Aeronautical Association (THK) planes would not be used in fires, the inadequacy of the planes rented from Russia and the government being too late in demanding support from foreign countries were the focus of criticisms.

A professor from İstanbul University Faculty of Forestry, Dr. Doğanay Tolunay spoke to bianet about Turkey's preparations for forest fires.

'There is an action plan but it is not implemented'

"Every year the General Directorate of Forestry prepares an action plan for forest fires. However, it remains on paper, and never be realized." Tolunay stated.

"An action has been prepared for 2022, but unfortunately there are no efficient control mechanisms for that."

Tolunay gave the information that there is an increase in the number of vehicles to be used in forest fires.

"2 thousand 270 first responder vehicles, 1065 sprinklers, 185 dozers, 263 graders are going to be used, but it is not enough."

"They have planned to buy 55 helicopters, 20 planes, and 8 unmanned aerial vehicles. 7 of 55 helicopters are ready now. Tenders for 10 planes have been completed."

Turkey will not buy these vehicles but will rent them for summer.The planes that were rented from Russia last year were Beriev-200 Type. These planes were not used effectively since they were too big.

Tolunay said that Turkey will not rent the same planes this year. "10 of 20 planes will be rented from Spain. Model CL-415 of Canadair."

'The tenders are not transparent'

The professor criticized that the tenders about renting the vehicles to be used in fires are not transparent.

"They are not sharing any information with the public. How much are those planes, when they will be ready to be used... These are all unknown."

CLICK: Turkey lodges a tender to buy firefighting aircraft 6 months after wildfires

'The importance of planes is exaggerated'

According to Tolunay, the debate about the number of planes, helicopters, etc. are not that important in fighting forest fires.

"Local teams are very important in fighting forest fires. The vehicles to be used on the ground are also very important. The roads should be ready for those vehicles to be able to enter the fire areas."

Another problem in Turkey in the fight against forest fires is the number of fire workers. Tolunay stated that there are not enough fire workers in Turkey.

"This became visible in forest fires last year," he stated.

Tolunay also warned about the dangers of volunteers going to fire areas to extinguish forest fires.

"The training given to these people is not enough, so it is a real risk for citizens to go to these fire zones."

'Turkey is not ready for forest fires'

Tolunay concluded that the precautions taken by the government are only limited to renting more vehicles in Turkey.

"For instance they should inform the public, educate them about the causes of the fires, and the municipalities should work in cooperation with other public institutions. They should conduct more fire drills. Unfortunately, we are not ready for the forest fires" (HA/TB/VK)