Call for 'Green Homeland' from Minister Yumaklı: Fully Equipped Preparation Against Forest Fires

Tarım ve Orman Bakanı İbrahim Yumaklı made important statements regarding the forest fire fighting process during the "Fire Line Training Program" held at the İstanbul Orman Bölge Müdürlüğü. He emphasized that extinguishing fires is not only the duty of official institutions, but must also become a common responsibility of all segments of society. He underlined that a truly successful fight is possible not only with strong equipment and tools, but also with conscious and sensitive citizen behavior. In this context, he addressed many issues, from the training of personnel in the region to operational preparations in the field. Authorities stated that the training program aims to increase the capacity of the teams before the fire season.

Stating that Türkiye's technical and personnel capacity in fighting forest fires has reached very strong levels, Bakan Yumaklı stated that there are currently 28 bin personnel working directly in the field. He also stated that 140 bini aşkın volunteers supporting the firefighting processes are also a part of this large team. He noted that 28 uçak, 119 helikopter, and 14 insansız hava aracı are actively used for aerial and ground interventions. Regarding land vehicles, he stated that a fleet equipped with bin 953 arazöz and numerous first intervention vehicles is on duty. He added to his words that watchtowers, water pools, construction machinery, and modern technological infrastructure form a comprehensive defense line against fires.

The way to minimize the expected damage in forest fires is by shortening the fire intervention time. Acting with this awareness, Bakan Yumaklı successfully announced that the average initial response time to fires in Türkiye has dropped to 11 dakika. He stated that the teams are working intensively to improve this time even further, reducing it to 10 dakika, and that uninterrupted work continues. Noting that early warning mechanisms and meteorological analyzes have become one of the building blocks of operations, he emphasized that artificial intelligence-supported technologies integrated into the system play a critical role. He stated that thanks to the completion of all preparations in advance during periods when risk levels rise, the goal is to be able to react instantly to a possible fire.

Stating that the precautions to be taken to prevent the fire from occurring have a unique value as much as fire extinguishing operations, Yumaklı drew attention to this issue with his announcement, "Preventing the fire before it breaks out is the greatest success." He underlined that negligence, carelessness, and unconscious behavior, listed among human-induced causes, are the main factors triggering forest fires. He stated that an intensive information activity is carried out through muhtars in order to train citizens living in areas with potential risk on correct behavior patterns. He stated that strengthening communication and awareness will prevent panic during a fire and reduce damage. In this regard, he stated that it is essential for citizens to avoid all kinds of actions that would disrupt the sensitive balances in forested areas.

Touching upon the risks created by air temperatures running above seasonal normals, Bakan Yumaklı warned that short-term rainfall or cloudy weather does not completely eliminate the fire danger. Emphasizing the continuity of operational readiness, he announced that authorized teams will be on duty uninterruptedly, seven days a week and twenty-four hours a day, until the date of 15 Ekim. He made a serious and clear warning to citizens not to light fires in open areas and to stay away from actions such as burning stubble, which cause deep damage to both the soil and the ecosystem. He pointed out that forests are not merely a collection of trees, but an invaluable ecosystem for Türkiye with its biological diversity, hosting many living creatures. Completing his statements, he stated that in order to leave a livable environment for future generations, it is essential to protect these natural wealth, defined as the "green homeland", through technical, institutional, and social solidarity.